Journalist Ahmed Talal denounces CAF’s “overly lenient, contradictory and scandalous” sanctions after the Morocco–Senegal final
Le7tv media director Ahmed Talal spoke in English to comment on the decision issued by the disciplinary commission of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following the serious incidents that marred the Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal on January 18.
In an analysis widely shared across social networks and sports platforms, Ahmed Talal strongly criticized a verdict he considers “incoherent, overly lenient and harmful to the image of African football.”
According to him, CAF’s decision fails to reflect both the seriousness of the events and the responsibility of the main actors involved, particularly the Senegalese head coach, whom he considers the primary instigator of the incidents.
Talal recalls that the Senegal coach called on his players to leave the pitch during the continental final, causing a lengthy interruption of the match and creating extreme tension inside the stadium. According to him, this decision further inflamed the atmosphere in the stands, leading some Senegalese supporters to clash with security personnel and stewards, several of whom were reportedly injured during the disturbances.
The journalist also pointed out that the coach’s attitude after the match did not help calm tensions, referring to what he described as a provocative behavior toward journalists during the post-match press conference.
For Ahmed Talal, CAF missed a major opportunity to send a strong message regarding discipline and respect for regulations. Instead, he believes the continental body has sent a dangerous signal for the future of African competitions.
According to him, this decision now creates a worrying precedent: any team that feels wronged by refereeing decisions could be tempted to leave the pitch without fearing serious sporting consequences, since sanctions appear limited mainly to financial penalties and relatively short individual suspensions.
Ahmed Talal argues that a much harsher punishment should have been imposed on the main person responsible, potentially involving a suspension of two or three years to protect the integrity of African competitions. Instead, the Senegal coach received only a five-match suspension, a sanction Talal considers grossly insufficient in view of the gravity of the incidents.
The Le7tv director also stated that, faced with what he considers scandalously indulgent sanctions, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) now reserves the right to bring the matter before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to challenge a decision deemed unjust and inadequate given the circumstances.
For Ahmed Talal, the outcome reveals a deeper problem: if African disciplinary bodies fail to impose clear rules and deterrent sanctions, the credibility of continental competitions risks being seriously undermined.
He concluded his intervention with a clear warning: without disciplinary consistency and exemplary decisions, similar incidents may occur again, harming both the development and the international image of African football.
Abderrazzak Boussaid / Le7tv
