CAF Appeal Committee member denies involvement in AFCON ruling as listed panel emerges

2026-03-20 - 04:12

CAF Appeal Committee member Mohamed Robleh Djama has denied taking part in the process that led to Senegal being stripped of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, further deepening controversy around the ruling. Djama stated that he was not present during any deliberations related to the case. “I was neither present nor take part in such deliberations,” he said during a news conference. However, an official CAF document outlining the decision has identified the panel members who sat on the matter. The Appeal Board was chaired by Nigeria’s Roli Daibo Harriman, with Cape Verde’s Faustino Varela Monteiro serving as vice-chairperson. Other members listed include Tunisia’s Moez Ben Tahar, Togo’s Espoir Asogbavi Komlan and Malawi’s Masauko Timothy Msungama. The ruling overturned Senegal’s 1-0 extra-time win over Morocco, awarding a 3-0 victory to Morocco after CAF determined that Senegal had forfeited the match following a walk-off during the game. Djama’s comments have added another layer of scrutiny to the process, with questions now being raised over the composition and proceedings of the Appeal Board. Djibouti Football Association president Souleiman Waberi has publicly backed Djama, supporting his claim and calling for clarity over how the decision was reached. The development is expected to intensify debate around one of the most controversial rulings in African football, as Senegal prepare to challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Send your news stories to [email protected] and via WhatsApp on +233 546310076.