Nigeria’s senior men’s national team head coach Eric Chelle has called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strictly enforce its regulations in order to resolve the lingering controversy surrounding the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Morocco.
The final has continued to spark debate across the continent despite a ruling by CAF’s Disciplinary Committee. Morocco have reportedly appealed the decision, while Senegal accepted the verdict — a situation that has kept discussions and disagreements alive within African football circles.
Reacting to the developments, Chelle maintained a neutral stance but stressed that clarity and firm application of the laws of the game remain the only path to restoring credibility.
“What are the rules? I’m not taking sides,” Chelle said.
“As a player, if I leave the field to get a drink of water on the bench, it’s a yellow card. When you deliberately leave, there’s a penalty.”
The Franco-Malian tactician emphasized that consistent enforcement of regulations is vital to protecting the integrity of the sport.
“Whatever happens, decisions have to be made, and to make them, you have to know the rules and apply them. That way, we can put an end to all the controversy,” he added.
Chelle’s remarks echo growing calls from stakeholders across the continent for CAF to ensure transparency, fairness, and uniform application of its statutes in order to maintain trust in officiating and governance within African football competitions.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
