By OkayGoal 
Former West Ham United midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker has launched a scathing critique of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), describing the handling of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final as a major embarrassment that has damaged the tournament’s global reputation.
Speaking on CBS Sports Golazo, Reo-Coker expressed deep frustration over how events unfolded, warning that the controversy reinforces long-standing negative perceptions about African football and the Africa Cup of Nations.
The AFCON 2025 final has been overshadowed by controversy following the decision of the CAF Appeal Committee to award Morocco a 3-0 victory after Senegal were deemed to have forfeited the match by walking off the pitch. The ruling has sparked widespread debate across the football world.
Reo-Coker believes the situation plays directly into existing criticism of the tournament, particularly from sections of European football.
“There’s always been a stigma attached to African football,” he said. “We’ve had top managers in Europe question the tournament, even saying they hesitate to sign African players because of AFCON and its timing.”
According to the former midfielder, the latest controversy gives critics fresh ammunition to undermine the credibility of African football on the global stage.
“This is another reason for people to talk down on the competition. It’s an absolute embarrassment for CAF and how this situation has been handled,” he added.
Beyond governance concerns, Reo-Coker also questioned the sporting integrity of the final’s outcome, suggesting that such a conclusion undermines the pride of the players involved.
“There’s not one Moroccan player who would truly want to win like that,” he argued. “As a player, you want to earn your victory on the pitch – not be handed a title under these circumstances.”
He further stressed that the manner in which the title was decided damages both the image of the players and the competition itself, internally and externally.
The fallout from the final has reignited calls for CAF to take decisive steps to restore confidence in its flagship tournament.
Stakeholders across the football community are urging stronger governance, improved match-day management, and greater accountability in handling high-stakes fixtures.
With the AFCON widely regarded as Africa’s premier football competition, the incident represents a critical moment for CAF as it seeks to protect the integrity, reputation, and global standing of the tournament moving forward.