Vanessa Luwama Withdraws from Football Coverage Following Widespread Criticism Over Her Comments on Senegal’s National Team
French journalist Vanessa Luwama, a prominent figure in beIN Sports’ coverage of the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, has decided to end her career in football reporting, announcing her departure from the field at the conclusion of the current season.
Luwama revealed her decision through a personal blog post on her Instagram account, following what she described as a violent campaign of insults and abusive messages directed at her on social media, immediately after she covered the Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal.
In a message that resembled a farewell letter, the French journalist wrote: “Thank you, football, for all the encounters and beautiful moments, but it is time to leave. With the end of the season, I will stop this, and today I feel liberated.”
She clarified that the wave of anger erupted primarily due to comments she made during a television interview with Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, where she addressed incidents in the final minutes of the match after a penalty was awarded to Morocco. She also faced backlash for not congratulating the Senegalese team after they won the championship.
Luwama noted that her remarks did not go unnoticed by some of the Senegalese audience or by the goalkeeper himself, quickly escalating into a widespread personal attack that crossed the boundaries of sports criticism.
Despite her firm rejection of all forms of online harassment, the journalist emphasized that the turning point in her decision stemmed not only from external insults but also from what she considered a lack of support within the media environment. She pointed out that some colleagues chose to offer harsh criticism of her work instead of defending her professional rights.
Luwama stated that she would continue to cover matches in the French second division until the end of the season before fully distancing herself from the world of football.
For its part, beIN Sports affirmed its initial stance, emphasizing that it does not intervene in the personal views of its employees on social media, while simultaneously condemning all forms of attack and abuse targeting its journalists.
