In an unprecedented move within the realm of African football, Samir Subha, the President of the Mauritius Football Association and a member of the African Football Confederation’s executive committee, openly acknowledged what he described as the “great injustice” endured by the Moroccan national team in the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
In statements reported by “The Guardian,” Subha directed a clear message to the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, urging a resolution to the events that transpired and recognizing that the regulations were not applied as they should have been during the final match. He went further by talking about a “theft” suffered by the national team, suggesting that some refereeing decisions did not adhere to the competition’s rules.
The African official specifically referred to the incident of Senegalese players leaving the pitch, affirming that regulations stipulate yellow cards must be shown to all concerned players in such cases. In his view, the failure to take this action affected the course of the match.
Despite his candid criticism, Subha emphasized that Senegal’s victory should not be questioned, as he considered the events to have become part of sports history; however, acknowledging the mistakes remains, in his opinion, a necessary step. He confirmed that after reviewing the organizational texts of the competition, he believes his stance is based on clear legal grounds.
Subha’s comments did not stop at the 2025 final but extended to the administrative situation within the African Football Confederation, raising new questions about the legal status of Secretary-General Veron Musingo Omba. He claimed that the latter currently occupies his position in a manner inconsistent with the statutes, casting doubt on his qualifications to make official decisions or sign documents on behalf of the organization.
Subha called for an urgent rectification of the situation, advocating for the appointment of a “fully authorized and legitimate” Secretary-General, noting that several national federation presidents share the same opinion regarding Musingo’s term coming to an end.
In conclusion, he expressed his personal appreciation for CAF President Patrice Motsepe, describing him as a “good person,” but did not hide his conviction that the continental institution needs to address some discrepancies to ensure compliance with laws and restore trust in its bodies.
