All posts tagged: AFCON

Thierry Henry praises Cape Verde’s belief after World Cup heroics

Thierry Henry praises Cape Verde’s belief after World Cup heroics

Published by Webster

3 min readJul 4, 2026 01:45 PM IST The aftermath of Argentina’s 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in the World Cup Round of 32 game was all applause for the African nation, following an incredible showing against the defending world champions and for pushing them to the limit. French Legend Thierry Henry was full of praise for the World Cup debutants, considering how this small nation exceeded every expectation at their first World Cup. It required a goal and an assist from Lionel Messi, to take the Argentinians forward in the tournament and prevent one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history. “You know what’s actually impressive? It is not so much on how they played and everything, which is impressive, but the number of people who live there,” said Henry on Fox Sports‘ post match show. The Arsenal icon heaped a lot of praise towards the Cape Verde’s players and manager, being impressed by their passion, grit and ever present ‘never give up’ mentality. Reflecting on the Cape Verdeans’ performance against the South …

Departing coach’s advice for South Africa

Departing coach’s advice for South Africa

Published by Webster

3 min readJun 29, 2026 03:29 PM IST History is written by winners and it will record that South Africa bowed out of the FIFA World Cup in the Round of 32 after a last-gasp goal from Canada. But for a team derided as probably the worst in the tournament after a game and a half, making it to the knockout rounds for the first time in its history was a creditable achievement in itself. Beating a pedigreed side like South Africa to advance was a result of the team punching well above its weight and making optimum use of its limited resources, but it couldn’t prevent the heartbreak in injury time. After the 0-2 defeat to Mexico – in which they had two players sent off – and the concession of the early goal against Czechia, one would have feared for them, but not only did they prevent any more Czech goals, but also fashioned a late equalizer to stay alive in the competition. ALSO READ | All-action hero Eustaquio nets injury time winner …

CAF Chief Motsepe dismisses bias claims in Senegal-Morocco AFCON controversy

CAF Chief Motsepe dismisses bias claims in Senegal-Morocco AFCON controversy

Published by Webster

3 min readMar 19, 2026 03:48 PM IST Patrice Motsepe, the president of the Confederation of African Football, defended CAF’s stance after it stripped Senegal of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, even as the West African nation is all set to take the matter to sport’s highest court. “The disciplinary board took one decision. The appeals board took a totally different position. Senegal is going to appeal, which is very important. We will respect whatever decision is taken at the highest level,” the CAF chief said. Senegal’s football federation had a sharp response when they said the ruling was “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable”, saying that it “brings discredit to African football”. They confirmed they will be taking their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. The controversy centers around the shocking nature of the final match from January 18. The continental body’s Appeals Board found that the Lions of Teranga had forfeited their match after they briefly walked off the pitch when they protested late penalty given to Morocco. The …

Senegalese Football Federation condemns CAF verdict, heads to Court of Arbitration for Sport against ruling that handed 2025 AFCON title to Morocco

Senegalese Football Federation condemns CAF verdict, heads to Court of Arbitration for Sport against ruling that handed 2025 AFCON title to Morocco

Published by Webster

3 min readMar 18, 2026 11:28 AM IST The Senegalese Football Federation (La Fédération Sénégalaise de Football – FSF) condemned the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which ruled that Senegal had been stripped of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and Morocco, their opponents in the final, had been declared champions. The Senegalese Football Federation called it an unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable decision by CAF, which brings discredit to African football. The football body of Senegal said that it would challenge the decision by CAF in front of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland. CAS is an independent organisation that resolves sports disputes worldwide. Senegal were stripped of their title by CAF for walking off the pitch in protest at their opponents, Morocco, being awarded a late penalty. Morocco had lost that match 1-0 on January 18 in the country’s capital of Rabbat, but that was after Senegal had staged a walkout, led by their coach Pape Thiaw, over a contentious penalty that was awarded to …

Senegal stripped of Africa Cup of Nations title two months after final, Morocco declared champions | Football News

Senegal stripped of Africa Cup of Nations title two months after final, Morocco declared champions | Football News

Published by Webster

3 min readUpdated: Mar 18, 2026 09:04 AM IST Senegal have been stripped of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and Morocco, their opponents in the final, have been declared champions in an extraordinary decision announced by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday. Morocco had lost that match 1-0 on January 18 but that was after Senegal had staged a walkout, led by their coach Pape Thiaw, over a contentious penalty that was awarded to the former in injury time. It is this walkout, which delayed the final by 15 minutes, that has eventually led to them being stripped of the title. The CAF’s Appeals Board decided that Senegal had forfeited the match, with the result now being recorded as 3–0 in favour of Morocco. The Moroccan football federation – Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), had initially appealed to the CAF’s Disciplinary Board which had been rejected. However, their position that Senegal had violated Article 82 of the regulations for the tournament was then accepeted by the CAF’s Appeals Board. …

WATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo & Al-Nassr squad welcome AFCON hero Sadio Mane following historic Senegal triumph | Football News

WATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo & Al-Nassr squad welcome AFCON hero Sadio Mane following historic Senegal triumph | Football News

Published by Parlour News

Senegal star footballer Sadio Mane returned to his Saudi Arabian club, Al-Nassr, not as a squad member but as a sporting l hero. He arrives fresh from leading Senegal to a historic Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) victory, defeating a strong Moroccan team on their home soil. His homecoming was a celebration, with the entire Al-Nassr squad giving him a hero’s welcome filled with applause and warm embraces, notably from Cristiano Ronaldo. When the 33-year-old winger arrived at the Al-Nassr training camp, the club captured the special moment in a video titled “Welcoming back our champion,” which showed a beaming Mane soaking in the admiration of his colleagues. This followed Senegal’s dramatic 1-0 extra-time victory over Morocco in the final. MUST READ | Africa Cup of Nations | Sadio Mane’s finest victory: The ball wizard who chose peace Ronaldo and his teammates honoured Mane’s achievement by presenting him with a congratulatory cake. Mane later told the club’s cameras, “Thank you guys, I’m really happy for the present. I didn’t expect this. That showed a warm …

YouTuber IShowSpeed asks ‘who’s Nora Fatehi’, can’t recognise her at Afcon final; fans say: Someone more famous than you

YouTuber IShowSpeed asks ‘who’s Nora Fatehi’, can’t recognise her at Afcon final; fans say: Someone more famous than you

Published by Webster

The internet has reacted after YouTuber IShowSpeed met actor-dancer Nora Fatehi but failed to recognise her. The duo recently attended the Afcon final match between Morocco and Senegal, which took place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. Nora Fatehi and IShowSpeed attended the match in Rabat. YouTuber IShowSpeed meets Nora Fatehi, but doesn’t recognise her In a clip shared on Instagram by a fan account, IShowSpeed stood near Nora as she posed for pictures. After she saw him, she greeted him. After responding to her, IShowSpeed kept smiling, looking at his friends. He then kept asking, “Nora Fatehi. Who’s Nora Fatehi? Who’s Nora Fatehi? Who’s that?” Here’s what the internet has to say Reacting to the video, a fan said, “She is a popular Bollywood actress in India, but she was born in Morocco; that’s why she went to support her team.” A person wrote, “Someone famous than you !! Because I don’t know you, but I know her, so I just wanted to answer your question.” “She is the Global Star. …

Senegal’s second goalkeeper becomes unlikely hero in AFCON final

Senegal’s second goalkeeper becomes unlikely hero in AFCON final

Published by Webster

The 14 mintue delay and Senegal players walking off the pitch after concedeing a late penalty was not the only bizzare incident in the AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco last night. In another peculiar incident, Senegal’s second goalkeeper spent long spells of Sunday’s match protecting the towels used by starting keeper Edouard Mendy from repeated attempts by ball boys to snatch them. Diouf was an unlikely hero without every playing the final. Senegalese fans praised Diouf’s efforts and some even went on to compare his effort as crucial as the extra-time winning goal scored by Pape Gueye. WATCH: Senegal’s backup goalkeeper Yéhvann Diouf fighting with ball boys The guy they’re dragging plays for Nice in France if I’m not mistaken. A Top tier goalkeeper, Yehvann Diouf. Ball boys are dragging a professional player on the floor. Ball boys? What power do they have? Look at Saibari too, a champions league player, this is beyond… https://t.co/FEgu9UEpP9 pic.twitter.com/xx7yWtSel9 — TobyWrites (@tobyasky) January 19, 2026 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js In now a viral video on X and other social media …

‘I apologise to football’, Senegal coach Pape Thiaw issues apology after AFCON final fiasco | Football News

‘I apologise to football’, Senegal coach Pape Thiaw issues apology after AFCON final fiasco | Football News

Published by Webster

Senegal coach Pape Bouna Thiaw apologised to ‘football’ after asking his players to leave the pitch following a penalty was given to host Morocco in the final of Africa Cup of Nations 2025, in Rabat on Sunday. It was a chaotic final as Senegal walked off the pitch due to a contentious penalty and then returned to score a goal in extra time to clinch the title. The centre of the controversy was a disallowed goal and a penalty. Senegal was protesting a disallowed goal on the other side, while referee Jean-Jacques Ndala’s decided to award a penalty to Brahim Diaz after VAR check. The VAR deemed the shirt tug on Diaz by full-back El Hadji Malick Diouf as a foul. Angered by the decision, Thiaw first told his players to walk off the pitch before later reversing his decision. “We did not agree with the decision, that is all, and I do not want to go back over what happened in this match. After reflecting, I really did not like the fact that I …

Arne Slot ends Mo Salah Cold War as Liverpool star prepares for dramatic Anfield return after AFCON | Football News

Arne Slot ends Mo Salah Cold War as Liverpool star prepares for dramatic Anfield return after AFCON | Football News

Published by Webster

Liverpool manager seems to have extended an olive branch to star player Mo Salah, putting behind an apparent falling out that the duo had just a few weeks back. Slot told journalists at a press conference that he was glad to welcome back Salah from the Africa Cup of Nations. Before he had left for AFCON, Salah had accused the club of “throwing him under the bus” before revealing that his relationship with Slot had broken down. This was around the time that the 33-year-old was benched for three matches. Salah has not started for Liverpool since November, but Slot’s comments about being happy to have him back after he plays in Egypt’s third-place match ‍against ⁠Nigeria on Saturday, opens the possibility of a rapprochement between the star and the manager. “First-off, he has to play another big game for Egypt on Saturday,” Slot told reporters ahead of Saturday’s home ​game against Burnley. “I’m happy he’s coming back. ‌If I had 15 attackers, I would still be happy to have him back.” After a woeful …