By As football pundits continue to comment on the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip Senegal of the 2025 AFCON title, Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has thrown his support behind the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following its controversial decision to strip Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 title and award it to Morocco.
Chelle made the remarks during a recent interview with French outlet RMC Sport and monitored by AfrikTimes, while reacting to the chaotic AFCON final played on January 18, 2026, in Rabat. Speaking on the development, the Nigerian coach insisted that CAF acted within the established rules, emphasizing that the decision was not subjective but clearly defined by football regulations.
“The rule is simple, any team that leaves the field without a valid reason is declared the loser. This is not an opinion, it is the law,” Chelle stated.
He further stressed that, in such circumstances, teams must remain on the pitch regardless of challenges, adding that resilience is a key part of the game.
“In their place, I would have stayed and fought until the very end,” he added.
CAF’s ruling came after Senegal briefly walked off during the final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, a move later deemed a violation of tournament regulations, leading to the reversal of the result and awarding Morocco a 3–0 victory. The decision has since sparked widespread debate across the football community, with opinions sharply divided over the severity of the punishment.
