Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts to CAF’s decision awarding Morocco the 2025 AFCON title after Senegal’s walk-off in the final

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has expressed surprise at the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to award the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to Morocco.

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CAF’s Appeal Board overturned Senegal’s 1–0 victory in the final, citing the Teranga Lions’ walk-off in protest of a stoppage-time penalty as a breach of Articles 82 and 84.

The match was subsequently recorded as a 3–0 forfeit in favour of Morocco.

“It’s a surprise,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday.

“I don’t have a proper opinion because I don’t know the reason why. I didn’t read, didn’t see. But it’s a decision made behind-the-scenes. What happens everywhere is what we see, it’s not happened, it always happens behind the scenes and you don’t see their faces. That is what is happening lately in football and all around the world in other subjects.”

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The decision has sparked debate across the football community, with fans and analysts questioning the transparency and timing of CAF’s ruling.