Jamie Carragher has likened AFCON to the UEFA Champions League following CAF’s decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 title and award Morocco a 3-0 win.
This move has sparked discussions on how major tournaments address off-field issues.
Carragher used this opportunity to highlight differences between AFCON and European competitions.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Jamie Carragher compares AFCON decision to Champions League
Jamie Carragher highlighted the AFCON title reversal, focusing on the overturning of Senegal’s victory by CAF.
“So Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations final, the crowd was celebrating, and now they’ve been told, ‘No, sorry, Morocco wins 3–0!’ This is unbelievable,” Carragher remarked.
CAF determined that Senegal forfeited the final after their players left the pitch during extra time, recording the result as a 3-0 win for Morocco.
Carragher described the sequence—an apparent final followed by a decision reversal—as hard to accept.
AFCON vs Champions League debate raised by Carragher
The fallout has led to broader comparisons between AFCON and tournaments like the Champions League and the European Championship.
“This is why I said that AFCON isn’t a major tournament. In Europe, this would never happen in a Champions League or Euros final!”
“You wouldn’t award medals one day and then say, ‘Actually, the other team wins.’ It’s absurd!” Carragher emphasized.
Carragher’s main point is about consistency, arguing that once a final’s result is decided on the field, it should not be changed afterward.
CAF’s ruling prioritized regulatory enforcement, meaning Senegal’s on-field win does not reflect the official outcome.
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