Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has criticised the decision to award the Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco national football team, describing the ruling as difficult to accept.
The Confederation of African Football appeals committee (CAF) overturned the original result of the 2025 final and stripped Senegal national football team of the title, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory following a disciplinary review.
The move, which came weeks after Senegal’s 1-0 win in the final, has sparked widespread debate across African football, raising questions about governance and the integrity of the competition.
Troost-Ekong said he initially struggled to believe the decision when he first heard about it.
“When I first heard the news… I thought it was a joke,” he said. “When I realised it was actually real… it just made me feel quite sad.”
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The former Super Eagles defender questioned whether such a title could truly be celebrated, arguing that major honours should always be decided on the pitch.
“Every African player wants to win this tournament but would I celebrate now if I was in Morocco’s shoes? Absolutely not. I would feel ashamed to win like this. It wouldn’t feel right.”
The controversy stems from an incident during the final in which Senegal players briefly left the pitch in protest after a disputed penalty decision.
Although they returned to complete the match, CAF’s appeal body ruled that the action breached tournament regulations, citing provisions that allow forfeiture if a team leaves the field without permission.
Following an appeal from Morocco’s football authorities, CAF overturned the result and awarded a 3-0 win to Morocco — a decision some observers argue conflicts with established match authority principles under global football laws.
Drawing on his own experience, Troost-Ekong referenced Nigeria’s defeat in the 2023 final to underline his stance on sporting integrity. “I captained Nigeria in the AFCON final which we lost. I would never go back and change the outcome of a final I was in and lost.”
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He also expressed sympathy for Senegal’s players, suggesting the emotional impact of the ruling could be significant.
“Senegal will always claim they are the winners.I can’t imagine how those players are feeling.”
The dispute may not yet be over. Senegal are expected to challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, a process that could take months to resolve.
