‘This Is Not the Africa We Believe In’: Mané Says CAF’s Corruption Killing African Football
Sadio Mané has spoken out forcefully against the Confederation of African Football’s Appeals Body ruling that stripped Senegal of the AFCON 2025 title and awarded it to host nation Morocco two months after the championship was concluded.
In a statement shared on his official Instagram account, Mané declared that the decision represents a breaking point for African football. He stressed that this is ‘not the football we fight for, not the Africa we believe in.’
Mané accused CAF of allowing corruption to dictate outcomes, warning that it is ‘killing the passion of millions of fans across the continent.’
He lamented that players give everything on the pitch, only to see matches and trophies decided by officials off it.
The forward emphasized that his frustration is not only for Senegal but for African football as a whole. He insisted that the continent deserves better, calling for fairness, transparency, and respect for both players and fans.
Mané’s words add to the growing chorus of outrage following CAF’s controversial ruling, joining voices such as George Weah and the Senegalese Football Federation, who have vowed to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
