African legends Adepoju and Mido rip CAF apart over AFCON title farce

[p]The Lions of Teranga defeated hosts Atlas Lions 1-0 in a final that was overshadowed when the Senegalese players refused to play after the hosts were awarded a stoppage-time penalty with the match goalless.[/p][p]After a delay of over 15 minutes, the West Africans eventually returned and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/diaz-brahim/nm2Qvnyk/"]Brahim Diaz[/a]'s penalty was saved before Pape Gueye scored an extra-time winner.[/p][p]In a twist of fate, that result has now been overturned after a decision by an appeal board at African football's governing body.[/p][p][b]A statement from CAF said Senegal had been "declared to have forfeited the final match" with the "result of the match being recorded as 3-0 in favour" of Morocco.[/b][/p][p]The body added that "through the conduct of its team" Senegal infringed on Article 82 of regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations and, as a result, Article 84 became applicable.[/p][embed guid="9af8105c-9715-43c1-aeea-7edae8e7478f" url="https://x.com/CAF_Media/status/2034021397132153218" social-type="twitter" /][p]As the football circle continues to share contrasting views over the decision, former Egypt star [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mido/Am7zCafd/"]Mido[/a] has lashed out at CAF over the decision.[/p][p][b]"CAF is a real joke! I have been saying this for years. I have been even saying that most of the African legends who are involved/attending all the CAF events/meetings are clowns,” [/b]the former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tottenham/UDg08Ohm/"]Spurs[/a] star wrote.[/p][p][b]"The decision to take away the cup from Senegal and hand it to #Morocco is the biggest scandal in the history of football a decision that simply will divide Africa.[/b][/p][p]"Well done to Motsepe, you made us all look like some of the western world wants us to look like. We look now like idiots, backwards and corrupted continent.[/p][p][b]"Africa deserves better. There must be a revolution in African football. All these people must go and today not tomorrow. [/b][/p][p]"I’m not here against Morocco I love Morocco and I love Moroccans and I have a lot of Moroccan friends who I really love and respect but come on guys this is gone too far.[/p][p][b]"You lost on the pitch but Senegal were the better team at the final they deserve to be the champions of Africa.[/b][/p][p]"It’s clear simple and you all know it, I really wanted congratulate my Moroccan friends but I can’t congratulate you on something you won at the office and not on the pitch."[/p][p]In the same vein, LaLiga ambassador Adepoju stated what the decision meant to African football.[/p][p][b]"The decision is not good. It’s not good for the image and all that,"[/b] he told Footy Africa[/p][p][b]“If a decision is going to be taken, it should have been taken a long time ago, not at the moment, not after two months. That’s just the issue that I’m having.[/b][/p][p]“I think all those back and forth shouldn’t have been. I was surprised. Why did it take this long if this is what the rules are supposed to be?[/p][p][b]“I don’t know what Morocco is going to do now. Are they going to celebrate it? And what about the celebration that Senegal has done?”[/b][/p][p]Meanwhile, Senegal have confirmed that they will appeal the "unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable decision".[/p][image alt="Shina Oludare" id="e7231adb-0798-4c88-b7a9-4374038ba057" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="f6ef6fef-d063-4918-bb40-44024f27a3d8" original-width="1200" original-height="381" /]