The incident occurred in the pavilion area shared by supporters of Kerewan FC and spectators from surrounding communities, turning what began as a routine football fixture into a scene of chaos and fear.

Eyewitnesses said the disturbance started suddenly for reasons that remain unclear, triggering a wave of panic across the stands. Spectators reportedly began hurling stones at each other, forcing families and other fans to scramble for safety as the confrontation escalated.

Parents were seen shielding their children while others rushed to exit the pavilion amid the confusion.

“One moment we were cheering, the next people were running for their lives,” said a woman who had attended the match with her young son.

During the turmoil, a security officer reportedly confiscated a cutlass from one of the spectators and handed it over to the match commissioner, underscoring the seriousness of the situation and raising concerns about security at local football matches.

Despite the intensity of the confrontation, no serious injuries were reported.

The incident has nevertheless cast a shadow over the match and sparked alarm among local football stakeholders, who say such violence undermines the role of football as a unifying community activity.

Supporters and observers are now urging authorities, including the Upper River Region Football Association and the competition department responsible for the league, to take decisive steps to strengthen security and crowd management at regional football fixtures.

“Football brings our communities together, it shouldn’t put lives at risk,” one supporter said.

The clash has intensified calls for stricter safety measures at stadiums across the Upper River Region, particularly during high-attendance community matches where supporters from different localities gather in shared spaces.

Despite the defeat, the Gambian side impressed for long spells of the encounter, particularly in the opening stages when their organized pressing unsettled a heavily rotated Senegalese team.

Senegal began the match with a significantly reshuffled lineup, retaining only three starters from their previous friendly victory over Peru – Krépin Diatta, Ismaïla Sarr, and Mamadou Sarr – while eight new players were introduced from the outset.

Strong Gambian Press in Early Stages

From kickoff, the Scorpions applied intense pressure on the Senegalese build-up, deploying a compact block and close man-marking that disrupted the Lions’ rhythm during the first 20 minutes.

The midfield pairing of Pathé Ciss and Habib Diarra struggled to find fluidity as Gambian players aggressively pressed the ball, forcing Senegal to rely on deeper support from defenders to escape the pressure.

The Gambian attack also posed real threats during this period, forcing Senegal goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf into action on two occasions as the visitors pushed forward with confidence.

Senegal’s experimental three-man defense and advanced wing-back positioning left spaces that the Scorpions sought to exploit, making the opening phase one of the most competitive passages of the match.

Senegal Capitalizes After the Break

However, Senegal gained the upper hand shortly after the restart when coach Pape Thiaw introduced Bamba Dieng, Antoine Mendy, and Ibrahim Mbaye.

The changes quickly paid dividends. Just two minutes into the second half, a high ball recovery led to Bamba Dieng drawing the Gambian defense before releasing Ismaïla Sarr, who delivered a precise pass to Ibrahim Mbaye at the penalty spot. Mbaye converted calmly to double Senegal’s advantage.

The Scorpions responded positively and managed to reduce the deficit after a defensive error by goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf, who misjudged a header from Colley that found its way into the net.

Buoyed by the goal, The Gambia intensified their attacks and remained a constant threat during the final half hour, pressing for an equalizer against their West African neighbors.

However, Senegal sealed the victory late in the match when Lamine Camara struck a third goal, extinguishing hopes of a Gambian comeback.

Encouraging Signs for the Scorpions

Although the match ended in defeat, the performance offered encouraging signs for the Scorpions, whose disciplined pressing and attacking intent troubled one of Africa’s strongest sides for extended periods.

The encounter also highlighted Senegal’s squad depth as the African champions rotated heavily while preparing for upcoming international competitions.

For The Gambia, the display demonstrated the team’s growing competitiveness against top regional opposition, even if the final scoreline favored their neighbors.

The match marks Senegal’s second friendly of the current international break, coming just three days after a 2–0 victory over the Peru national football team at the Stade de France.

Buoyed by that result, the African champions are aiming to secure another win in front of their home supporters while maintaining momentum in their build-up to the global tournament.

The fixture forms part of Senegal’s ongoing preparations for the World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026. Team officials view the encounter as an important step in maintaining competitive rhythm and sustaining the standards set in recent matches.

Today’s game will also provide an opportunity for the Lions to reconnect with their home fans. The team is expected to present its continental trophy to supporters at Diamniadio, having already showcased it during their recent appearance in France. A large crowd is anticipated for the occasion.

For The Gambia, the match offers a chance to respond following a 3–0 defeat to Senegal during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

Despite the friendly status of the game, encounters between the neighboring nations are often fiercely contested due to the strong historical, cultural, and family ties that link the two countries.

Past meetings between the sides have also produced memorable moments. One such instance was the draw conceded by Senegal against Gambia during the qualifiers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, a result that contributed to Senegal missing out on the tournament in South Africa. Matches played on Gambian soil have also historically posed challenges for the Lions.

Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw stressed that his team will treat the encounter with seriousness despite its friendly status. “This is not just a friendly match. It is a step in our preparation for the World Cup. We have to take it seriously,” Thiaw said.

With that mindset, Senegal will be seeking a second consecutive victory during the international window while giving their supporters in Diamniadio a strong performance on home soil.

Speaking at a press conference, the CAF president admitted that Moez Nasri, the president of Tunisia’s football federation, should never have been included among the appeal judges.

“When I was informed that one of the individuals among the appeal judges was the president of one of our football associations, I said: ‘What is this? How did he get there?’” Motsepe said. “He should not have been there. We need greater rigor.”

The admission came after questions from Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana and effectively confirmed that a sitting federation president had participated in deliberations on a case involving national teams, something widely regarded as a serious conflict of interest.

Legal Affairs Interference Alleged

The controversy surrounding the Appeals Jury relates to the legal challenge stemming from the 2025 AFCON final between Senegal’s national football team and Morocco’s national football team.

However, the revelation about Nasri’s presence is only part of a broader set of allegations involving interference by CAF’s administration in a process meant to be independent.

According to accounts from individuals familiar with the proceedings, the situation began weeks before the Appeals Jury convened on March 17.

CAF had dismissed the head of its independent judicial bodies just two weeks before the hearing and did not formally appoint a replacement.

That vacuum allegedly allowed the confederation’s director of legal affairs, Cédrick Aghey, to intervene directly in the composition of the Appeals Jury.

Sources say Aghey personally selected the members requested by the jury’s chair, a move critics argue undermined the independence of the panel from the outset.

Motsepe Ally Present During Confidential Hearings.

Further questions have been raised over the presence of Rebecca Haimbili during the Appeals Jury proceedings in Cairo.

Haimbili, CAF’s director of governance, risk, and compliance, reportedly attended the hearings despite having no formal role within the Appeals Jury structure. The panel met physically in Cairo while representatives from Morocco and Senegal joined the proceedings via videoconference.

Under CAF’s governance framework, judicial bodies such as the Appeals Jury are meant to operate independently from the confederation’s administrative leadership to guarantee impartiality and confidentiality.

Several individuals working within CAF described Haimbili’s presence as highly irregular.

“This is a serious violation of the conduct of a legal procedure,” one official said. “How can the independence of a judicial commission be guaranteed if the administration selects the jury and then sends one of its own directors into the hearings?”

Controversial Role in Internal Investigations

Haimbili’s involvement has drawn additional scrutiny because of her role in earlier internal governance disputes at CAF.

A former lawyer at Namibia’s High Court, she joined CAF as a personal assistant to Petrus Damaseb, the Namibian Supreme Court judge who chairs CAF’s governance committee.

Damaseb had been tasked with investigating internal reports alleging administrative dysfunction and interference within the organization, particularly involving CAF Secretary General Véron Mosengo-Omba.

The investigation concluded rapidly and cleared all officials involved, allowing the CAF leadership to declare that no wrongdoing had occurred.

Shortly afterward, Haimbili was appointed director of governance, risk, and compliance, replacing the previous head of the department who had reportedly authored a detailed report outlining concerns about Mosengo-Omba and other senior officials.

Critics inside the organization claim the change effectively neutralized internal oversight mechanisms.

Mounting Questions Over CAF’s Legal Process

The combined revelations; Motsepe’s own admission about Nasri’s participation; the alleged role of the legal affairs department in selecting the jury; and the presence of a senior administrative director during confidential hearings have fueled growing doubts about the integrity of the process surrounding the AFCON final dispute.

Observers say the case, already regarded as one of the most consequential legal battles in CAF’s modern history, now risks becoming a broader test of the confederation’s governance and judicial independence.

In a statement issued from Cairo on Sunday, 29 March 2026, the Congolese football administrator confirmed his departure, just as CAF’s Executive Committee convened at the organization’s headquarters. His resignation follows days of speculation after reports emerged that several members of the executive leadership were preparing to push for his removal if he did not step down voluntarily.

“After over 30 years of an international professional career dedicated to promoting an ideal form of football that brings people together, educates, and creates opportunities for hope, I have decided to step down from my position as Secretary General of CAF to devote myself to more personal projects,” Mosengo-Omba said.

Pressure From Within CAF

Mosengo-Omba’s position had come under growing scrutiny after he remained in office beyond CAF’s mandatory retirement threshold. Under Regulation 130, staff are expected to retire at the age of 63, with a maximum three-year extension permitted.

Appointed in March 2021, Mosengo-Omba reached the limit of that extension in October 2025 after receiving approval from CAF president Patrice Motsepe. His continued stay beyond that period drew criticism from some members of CAF’s leadership, who raised concerns over governance standards and compliance with the organization’s internal regulations.

Sources within CAF had described the atmosphere surrounding his role as increasingly “toxic,” with internal tensions intensifying ahead of the executive meeting that ultimately coincided with his resignation.

In his statement, Mosengo-Omba suggested that allegations and suspicions surrounding his leadership had weighed heavily on him.

“Now that I have been able to dispel the suspicions that some people have gone to great lengths to cast on me, I can retire with peace of mind and without constraint, leaving the CAF more prosperous than ever,” he said.

AFCON Decision Sparks Wider Backlash

Mosengo-Omba’s exit also comes at a sensitive moment for African football, following CAF’s controversial decision to strip Senegal’s national football team of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to the Morocco national football team.

The ruling triggered a wave of criticism across Senegal and among sections of the African football community, with many questioning the transparency and legitimacy of the decision.

In response, a group of Senegalese lawyers announced plans to open an investigation into alleged corruption linked to the ruling, including possible legal action in United States jurisdictions. The move has further intensified scrutiny of CAF’s governance practices and decision-making processes.

Reforms Marred by Allgations of Collusion With FIFA

During his five-year tenure, Mosengo-Omba oversaw a period of institutional transformation within CAF. The organization experienced improved financial stability, expanded competitions, and increased commercial revenues.

His administration also pursued reforms aimed at strengthening CAF’s administrative structures and enhancing its global visibility, particularly through partnerships and strategic initiatives designed to modernize African football governance.

However, his leadership also faced criticism over internal appointments and allegations of favoritism, while his close relationship with Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, drew scrutiny from some observers who questioned the influence of external actors on CAF’s internal affairs.

Despite the controversies, Mosengo-Omba thanked those he worked with during his time in office.

“I sincerely thank the CAF’s President Dr. Patrice Motsepe, my teams, and all those who, directly or indirectly, have enabled CAF and organized African football to make real and remarkable progress,” he said.

A Legacy of Controversy Amid Future Leadership Battles

Mossengo-Omba has been a divisive figure at CAF, accused by some employees of creating a toxic atmosphere at the workplace, although an investigation after staff complaints cleared him of any wrongdoing.

The 66-year-old is of Congolese origin but a Swiss citizen and former FIFA employee who was a university friend of FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

Although he said he was retiring, Mossengo-Omba is expected to run for the post of president of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s football federation in elections in the next months, sources told Reuters.

If successful, that would thrust him into contention for CAF’s top job should Motsepe resign to enter politics in his native South Africa, where he is being touted as a possible successor to President Cyril Ramaphosa. Motsepe has, however, denied this.

The president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said the visit is aimed at discussing the controversial decision that stripped Senegal of the 2025 AFCON trophy after an appeal ruling awarded the title to Morocco.

Motsepe disclosed that after Senegal, he will also travel to Morocco as part of efforts to engage stakeholders and help ease tensions arising from the decision.

“We will not allow football to divide our peoples, bringing stress and tensions,” Motsepe said. “On the contrary, football must unite our peoples. CAF and I are determined to ensure that the excellent and historic relations between the people of Senegal and the people of Morocco continue to grow and that these ties are further strengthened.”

Senegal Accuses CAF of Corruption

The visit comes amid mounting diplomatic and sporting tensions after the CAF Appeals Board overturned Senegal’s 1–0 victory in the AFCON 2025 final and awarded the title to Morocco following a controversial 3–0 forfeit linked to protests during the match.

The Senegalese government has strongly rejected the decision, accusing CAF of corruption and calling for an independent international investigation into the ruling.

Authorities in Dakar described the decision as an “unjustified attempt” to strip the country of its title and alleged that the ruling was “grossly illegal” and based on what they called an erroneous interpretation of the competition’s regulations.

Senegal also argued that the move undermines the credibility of CAF, particularly because the confederation had initially distributed prize money and handed the trophy to Senegal before the appeal verdict reversed the outcome.

Motsepe Defends Appeals Process

Motsepe has defended the integrity of CAF’s judicial process, stressing that all 54 member associations have the right to appeal decisions.

He noted that differing outcomes between CAF’s disciplinary and appeals bodies reflect the independence of those institutions rather than interference from the confederation’s leadership.

“I will be going to Senegal in the next few weeks to meet with the football leadership,” Motsepe said, reaffirming his intention to engage directly with stakeholders in the country.

AFCON Expansion Announced

Meanwhile, Motsepe also revealed that the AFCON tournament, which is held every four years, will be expanded from 24 to 28 participating nations starting in 2028.

The expansion, he said, is intended to broaden participation and further develop football across the continent.

The dispute over the 2025 title is currently being appealed by Senegal, raising the prospect that the case could move to international sports arbitration if a resolution is not reached within CAF structures.

In a media release issued Wednesday from Lausanne, Switzerland, CAS said the appeal, registered on March 25, 2026, targets both CAF and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF). The dispute stems from a CAF decision on March 17, 2026, which ruled that the Senegal national team forfeited the tournament final and awarded the match to Morocco with a 3–0 result.

According to CAS, the Senegalese federation is seeking to have the CAF decision annulled and to be declared the winner of the continental competition.

The FSF has also requested an immediate suspension of the deadline to submit its detailed appeal brief until CAF provides the full written grounds of its decision. The ruling issued on March 17, CAS noted, contained only the operative outcome without the detailed reasoning.

A panel of arbitrators will now be appointed by CAS to examine the case. Once constituted, the panel will establish a procedural calendar to guide the arbitration process.

Under CAS rules, an appellant normally has 20 days to submit a formal appeal brief outlining its legal arguments, after which the respondents are given another 20 days to file their defence.

However, CAS indicated that because Senegal has requested a suspension of the filing deadline, it is currently not possible to determine a clear procedural timeline or predict when a hearing might take place.

CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb said the institution is equipped to handle such disputes through independent arbitration.

“CAS is perfectly equipped to resolve this type of dispute, with the assistance of expert and independent arbitrators,” Reeb said. “We understand that teams and fans are eager to know the final decision, and we will ensure that arbitration proceedings are conducted as swiftly as possible while respecting the right of all parties to a fair hearing.”

CAS added that the proceedings will remain confidential while ongoing and that updates will be provided to the media if and when a hearing is scheduled.

At the center of the backlash is the CAF appeal jury’s ruling, delivered nearly two months after the final in Rabat, a match Senegal had completed and won on the field after a chaotic interruption that saw the team briefly walk off before returning to finish the game, including extra time.

Former Senegal and Mali coach Alain Giresse said he was stunned by both the substance of the ruling and the time it took to reach it, describing the decision as “scandalous” and out of step with the reality of what unfolded during the final.

Giresse argued that while regulations exist, the circumstances of the match could not be ignored. He said Senegal’s temporary departure from the field had to be understood within the context of the tension, the disputed incidents during the game, and what he described as abnormal conditions surrounding the final.

“The match was able to finish, the Senegalese returned, they played, and they won on the pitch,” Giresse said, questioning how such a result could later be taken away. He added that the final had not unfolded under normal conditions and said it was unfair to place the blame entirely on Senegal.

He also criticised the handling of events during the match, saying the referee had been left alone in an impossible situation, and suggested that senior football authorities, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino, should not be absolved from scrutiny over how the matter evolved.

‘Football Must Be Decided on the Pitch’

Among the strongest reactions came from George Manneh Weah, the 1995 Ballon d’Or winner and former Liberian president, who issued a formal statement rejecting the CAF decision and insisting that the authority of the referee during the match should have been decisive.

Weah argued that under Law 5 of the Laws of the Game, which gives the referee full authority over decisions connected with play, the final result should have remained valid because the referee allowed the match to continue after the stoppage and the game was completed.

He noted that the referee’s report described the episode as a stoppage rather than a forfeiture and said any subsequent sanctions should have been limited to infractions committed during the game, not a reversal of the final outcome.

“Football must be decided on the pitch, not re-decided after the final whistle,” Weah said, warning that overriding an on-field result after a completed match risked setting a dangerous precedent for football governance.

He called on the Court of Arbitration for Sport and other relevant bodies to act decisively so that, in his words, “this travesty does not stand.”

Weah also dismissed as false social media posts claiming that he had supported CAF’s earlier disciplinary action against Senegal, saying his image had been misused to spread what he called fallacious statements.

Former Players Denounce CAF Leadership

Former France international Christophe Dugarry also launched a blistering attack on CAF’s leadership, saying the problem did not lie with African football itself, nor with supporters or players, but with the governing structures that have produced what he described as years of incomprehensible decisions.

Dugarry questioned why the appeal body had taken two months to issue a ruling on a matter of such importance, saying the delay only deepened frustration across the continent.

He said the decision served no one and warned against directing anger at either Senegalese or Moroccan supporters, insisting instead that responsibility lay with football authorities and elites who, he claimed, use the game for power, privilege, and financial gain while disregarding fans and players.

“It is always the interest of a minority of wealthy insiders that prevails,” Dugarry said, describing the situation as revolting.

Former Senegal international Diomansy Kamara echoed that anger, arguing that Senegal’s reaction during the final was born out of a long history of perceived injustice.

He said criticism that Senegal should never have left the field ignored the deeper frustrations of a team and a nation that believed it had been wronged by controversial officiating, including what he described as a legitimate goal being disallowed late in the game and a penalty being wrongly awarded to Morocco.

“When on the pitch you prove you are stronger, but a valid goal is cancelled in the 90th minute and a penalty is invented in the 97th, that is no longer football; it is business and politics,” Kamara said.

He added that although Morocco had lost on the pitch after failing to convert the disputed penalty, it was later declared African champion, a development he framed as proof that Senegal had confronted a wider system of power.

Political Voices Join the Criticism

Criticism of CAF also spilled beyond football circles.

Algerian Communication Minister Zoheir Bouamama reportedly condemned the confederation’s reaction, saying it was time to rid CAF of corruption that, in his view, had been entrenched for too long.

The widening chorus of criticism reflects the extent to which the ruling has become more than a sporting dispute, evolving into a broader argument about governance, fairness, and credibility in African football.

Focus Turns to CAF Appeal Jury

As anger over the decision mounted, attention also turned to the members of CAF’s appeal jury, the body that took the controversial decision to nullify Senegal’s title and award the tournament to Morocco.

The panel is chaired by Justice Roli Daibo Harriman of Nigeria, with Faustino Varela Monteiro of Cabo Verde serving as vice-president. Other members listed are Moez Ben Tahar Nasri of Tunisia, Moses Ikanqa of Namibia, Hamoud T’feil Bowbe of Mauritania, Mohamed Robleh Djama of Djibouti, Assogbavi Komlan of Togo, Justice Masauko Timothy Msungama of Malawi, and Lubamba Ngimbi Hector of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Their ruling has now become the focal point of an intensifying backlash, with critics saying the decision has not only overturned a final result but also damaged trust in the fairness and integrity of African football.

For many of those speaking out, the issue goes beyond Senegal and Morocco. It is about whether results earned on the field can still be trusted to stand once the final whistle has blown.

In a strongly worded communiqué addressed to CAF’s Secretary General and copied to its Appeals Committee, the FSF rejected the body’s March 17, 2026 decision, which awarded the final to Morocco after sanctioning Senegal with a 3-0 forfeit.

The Senegalese federation described the ruling as “legally unfounded, arbitrary, and manifestly disproportionate” and issued a formal notice demanding that CAF immediately halt the execution of the decision, including any process to hand the title to Morocco.

Dispute Over Referee Authority

Central to the FSF’s argument is what it calls a violation of the Laws of the Game as defined by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), particularly regarding the authority of the match referee.

According to the FSF, CAF’s Appeals Committee misapplied its regulations by classifying an incident during the final as an “abandonment” under Article 84. The federation maintains that the referee exercised discretion in line with IFAB Law 5 by temporarily suspending the match rather than terminating it.

“The match resumed, the penalty was taken, and the result was decided after extra time,” the FSF stated, arguing that reclassifying the incident after the fact violates the long-standing “field of play” doctrine upheld by CAS, which protects referees’ decisions made during matches.

“Misapplication of Regulations” and Sanction Deemed Disproportionate

The FSF further argued that CAF committed a “manifest error of legal qualification,” insisting that the criteria for abandonment were not met since play resumed and concluded officially.

It stressed that the match result had already been ratified and the trophy awarded, warning that reversing such outcomes undermines legal certainty and the integrity of the competition.

The Senegalese body also criticized the severity of the sanction, noting that stripping a continental title over a 15-minute interruption, after the game was completed, was excessive and inconsistent with CAS jurisprudence.

Ultimatum to CAF

In its concluding demands, the FSF gave CAF a 24-hour deadline to respond favorably, failing which it will initiate urgent proceedings before CAS within 48 hours.

The federation is seeking provisional measures to suspend the ruling and preserve Senegal’s title pending a final decision.

It also requested immediate access to the referee’s report and other official match documents, which it says are critical to mounting its legal challenge.

The dispute marks a significant escalation in one of African football’s most contentious rulings in recent years, with the potential to trigger a high-stakes legal battle at the international level.

The ruling follows chaotic scenes during the final in Rabat, where Senegal had initially secured a 1-0 win after extra time. However, CAF’s Appeal Board determined that Senegal forfeited the match after players walked off the pitch in protest during a moment late in the game.

In an official statement, CAF confirmed that the appeal lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football was upheld, citing Article 84 of the tournament’s regulations.

The decision declares Senegal to have lost the match by forfeit, with the result formally recorded as a 3-0 victory in favor of Morocco.

“The Jury d’Appel… has decided to declare the Senegal national team as having forfeited the final,” the statement read, adding that the match is homologated with a 3-0 scoreline for Morocco.

Walk-Off Sparks Controversy

The controversy stems from a dramatic incident deep into stoppage time of extra time when Moroccan forward Brahim Diaz went down in the penalty area. Although the referee initially allowed play to continue, a subsequent VAR review resulted in a penalty being awarded to the hosts.

The decision triggered a furious reaction from the Senegalese bench, with head coach Pape Thiaw reportedly instructing his players to leave the field in protest. The walk-off caused a prolonged interruption and ultimately led to disciplinary proceedings.

CAF’s Appeal Board found that Senegal’s actions constituted a breach of Articles 82 and 84 of the competition’s regulations, which govern team conduct and forfeiture. By abandoning the field of play, the team was deemed to have forfeited the match.

Landmark Decision

The ruling overturns an earlier decision by CAF’s Disciplinary Board and represents one of the most significant and controversial verdicts in the history of the tournament. It denies Senegal what would have been their second continental title while handing Morocco the championship on administrative grounds.

Morocco is now officially crowned champion of the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, a result that is likely to spark widespread debate across the footballing world.