“This decision is inappropriate,” says Habib Beye, commenting on the CAF Appeals Committee’s ruling

The former Senegal international expressed his bewilderment at this decision, which comes two months after the Lions of Teranga’s victory.

The Marseille manager believes Senegal deserves the title they won through their efforts on the pitch. Expressing his hope that the victory of 18 January 2026 would be respected, Habib Beye stated that the Appeals Committee’s shocking decision does nothing to enhance the image of the African continent. For the Senegalese tactician, it would have been more understandable if such a decision had been taken on the pitch during the final between Senegal and Morocco.

Ironically, I don’t think they’ll be able to get our trophy and medals back. They’re in our country with the people who won them and who earned them on the pitch. To be more serious, I think this decision is inappropriate, two months after the result was ratified. It’s quite baffling. But the title that Senegal won, they won it on the pitch in those dramatic circumstances. On the pitch, Senegal went out and won that title, and it was deserved. It’s a very difficult situation for CAF and everyone involved in all this. There will be a CAS ruling. I just hope we stick with the decision ratified on the pitch. I’m not an expert on the legal side of things, but it certainly doesn’t put our continent in a good light through the decisions of our institutions. A decision should have been made at the time, and even if it was difficult, people would have understood.