Bafana Bafana Coach Criticises CAF Over Delayed Decision to Strip Senegal of AFCON 2025 Title

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has raised serious concerns following the Confederation of African Football’s ruling to strip Senegal of the AFCON 2025 title and hand it over to Morocco.

CAF made the announcement on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, noting that the decision was made due to Senegal’s pitch walk-off during the final.

CAF overturned the original result, where Senegal had won 1-0 and awarded Morocco a 3–0 walkover victory.

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Speaking on SABC Sport, the Bafana Bafana coach commented on the recent CAF decision to strip, noting that the governing body continues to show inconsistency in its rulings.

Hugo Broos acknowledged that the outcome is particularly difficult for Senegal, but explained that there are established regulations stipulating that a team leaving the pitch constitutes a forfeiture, which he recognised as understandable from a procedural standpoint.

The coach also questioned the timing of the decision, expressing concern over why it took two months to enforce the rule and highlighted that other regulations, such as filing complaints for players who receive two yellow cards, require immediate action within a set timeframe, emphasising that adherence to procedural rules is essential for fairness in football governance.

“The only thing I can say is that CAF once again demonstrates the lack of consistency in its decisions. It's very painful for Senegal to lose that cup. But there is a rule, Article 83 or something similar. So, there is a rule: if you leave the pitch, it's a forfeit. Done. Finished. In that respect, I can understand,” Hugo Broos said.

“The only question is why it wasn't done earlier, why they waited two months. On the other hand, there is also a rule for when you select a player with two yellow cards, you must complain immediately after the game, and within 24 hours, you have to send your complaint to FIFA.”

Bafana Bafana coach further criticised CAF’s approach, recalling a previous incident involving Teboho Mokoena, where penalties were applied six months after the fact, despite clear regulations that should have been followed immediately.

He emphasised the need for consistency in enforcement, arguing that decisions should not vary between cases or be delayed until complaints arise from other parties.

While acknowledging the disappointment and difficulty of the situation, he stressed that the rules are clear and should be applied promptly, rather than selectively, to ensure fairness and transparency in football governance.

In September 2025, FIFA officially stripped South Africa of three points in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers for fielding Teboho Mokoena during their March victory over Lesotho.

The midfielder was ineligible for the match due to an automatic one-match suspension triggered by accumulating yellow cards in earlier qualifying rounds.

As a result, Bafana Bafana's 2–0 win was overturned to a 3–0 forfeit in favour of Lesotho, causing the team to lose their top spot in Group C.

“This didn't happen when we included Mokoena in the team. And six months later, they decide to deduct three points. Even though the rules stated what they had to do. And this is something I don't understand, and I’ve mentioned it before,” he added.

“You have to be consistent in your decisions, rather than applying different standards, doing this for one and that for another, ignoring the rules. Once again, yes, it's very painful. But it could have been addressed much earlier; instead of waiting for Morocco’s complaint, they should have acted immediately. No, no, just look. That's the rule. Out. Morocco has the cap.”