Senegal team mocks CAF with “crybabies” comment

2026-03-18 - 14:40

Senegal’s national team players have ridiculed the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision on Tuesday to strip them of their Africa Cup of Nations title. Morocco were ​declared Africa Cup of Nations champions after Senegal were ruled to ‌have forfeited the game in Rabat on January 18 because they walked off the pitch in protest at a potentially decisive penalty awarded against them. They returned after 14 minutes to ​win the match 1-0 courtesy of a Pape Gueye goal in extra ​time. CAF’s Appeal Board replaced that result with a 3-0 victory ⁠for Morocco late on Tuesday. Senegal’s players responded with jokes and sarcastic comments on ​social media. Midfielder Pathe Ciss posted a picture of him holding the trophy and ​celebrating on X, saying “you can give the crybabies three more goals” with a laughing emoji attached. Midfielder Mamadou Lamine Camara said “Who will come and collect our medals?” and asked when the ​Moroccan parade was planned. Centre back Moussa Niakhate posted an image from the ​aftermath of the final, writing “This is not AI, this is real,” while defender El Hadji Malick ‌Diouf ⁠said “This trophy is won on the pitch, not by email.” Forward Boulaye Dia added “You don’t create emotions; you have to experience them.” Midfielder Idrissa Gueye took a more philosophical approach on Instagram. “Titles, trophies, medals – all of that is fleeting. What really ​matters is that ​every fan can ⁠go home to their families... We know what we lived that evening in Rabat. And no one can take that ​away from us,” he wrote. The Senegalese Football Federation have condemned the ​decision to ⁠strip them of their title, calling it “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable”, while the country’s government on Wednesday urged an independent international investigation into CAF. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation acknowledged ⁠the decision ​and reiterated that the appeal was aimed solely ​at having the competition regulations properly applied. CAF did not immediately respond to a request for ​comment.