CAF decision on Senegal dangerous precedent, says Shehu Sani

By AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

Former lawmaker, Shehu Sani, faulted the Confederation of African Football’s decision to overturn Senegal’s victory and award it to Morocco, describing it as unjust and dangerous for the future of the game in Africa.

Sani spoke on Wednesday in Kaduna while addressing grassroots football coaches who paid him a courtesy visit.

He said football matches should be decided on the pitch, not in the boardroom, warning that administrative interference could erode the sport’s integrity.

According to him, stripping a team of victory after they played and completed a match following the final whistle was unacceptable.

He noted that although the Senegalese team reportedly walked out briefly during the game, they returned to complete the match, which should have been the overriding factor in determining the outcome.

“You cannot win a match on the field and then have officials sit somewhere to decide otherwise. That is not fair and not acceptable,” he said.

The former senator warned that such rulings could set a dangerous precedent capable of discouraging players and teams from giving their best during matches.

He added that relying on boardroom decisions instead of on-field performance could weaken confidence in football governance across the continent.

Sani stressed that African football must be guided by fairness, transparency, and respect for the rules of the game.

He further argued that decisions perceived as unjust could undermine the credibility of competitions organised on the continent.

The ex-lawmaker also linked the issue to the broader challenges facing football development in Nigeria, noting that the sport was no longer at its peak.

He said Nigeria, once a dominant force in African football, must return to grassroots development to regain its lost status.

Sani urged stakeholders to prioritise investment in young talents, particularly at the grassroots, to build a new generation of players capable of competing globally.