Even a month after the CAN 2025 final, debates continue to ignite passions. An unexpected statement has recently reignited discussions. Samir Sobha, president of the Mauritius Football Federation and member of the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), publicly expressed what he sees as an injustice suffered by Morocco during the final.
In an interview with the Guardian, Sobha claimed that certain rules were not properly applied during the match won by Senegal against Morocco after extra time (1-0).
Without trying to downplay his words, he said, “I want to beg the Moroccan Federation to forgive us for the injustice done to them. The rules were not respected as they should have been. They were robbed.”
Disciplinary sanctions deemed insufficient
The final was marked by a penalty awarded to Morocco in stoppage time, a decision that led to a halt in the match after the temporary withdrawal of Senegalese players. The game eventually resumed and was decided in extra time.
For Samir Sobha, disciplinary actions should have been taken immediately. He believes the withdrawal of the Senegalese players should have resulted in collective warnings. “All the players should have received a yellow card,” he emphasizes, referring to his interpretation of the regulations, which could have led to at least three expulsions among the Lions.
However, he insists he does not question the final result or the trophy awarded to Senegal, considering that the episode now belongs to football history.
Ongoing disagreements within CAF
It’s worth noting that CAF rejected the complaint filed by Morocco after the final. Nevertheless, the Atlas Lions appealed and announced their intention to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
While this stance remains individual and has no impact on the already rendered disciplinary decisions, it reveals the ongoing differences in interpretation surrounding this final and highlights the tensions within CAF’s governing bodies.
