Skip to main content

Featured Post

Nigeria Is Not Owned by Anyone—Except Those Who Build Her

  On this Democracy Day, I had intended to rest my pen. I wanted to leave the fate written on the walls of history to speak for itself. I thought perhaps the sacrifices of those who fought for democracy were enough testimony. Yet, in the final hour, a thought stirred within me, compelling me to write a message to all of us who have come together to form this sovereign nation called Nigeria. My message is particularly for those who believe that the business of Nigeria lies in the hands of a powerful few. Perhaps they are influenced by what the German sociologist Robert Michels described as the "Iron Law of Oligarchy" ,the tendency for power to concentrate in the hands of a small elite. Looking at our politics, our institutions, and our economy, one may be tempted to believe that the destiny of Nigeria is determined only by those who occupy powerful offices and influential positions. But history tells a different story. Nigeria does not belong to any president, governor, politi...
Post a Comment

BREAKING: Fact Check — No Official Statement from CAF Stripping Senegal AFCON Trophy

 


Contrasting Lille vs Manchester United and the AFCON 2025 Final



Oriontimes Editorial Board | Osogbo, Nigeria | March 18, 2026 



Reports have circulated claiming that Senegal national football team were stripped of their AFCON 2025 title following a controversial walk-off in the final. However, CAF’s official channels have not published any statement confirming this claim, leaving the story unverified at its source.



CAF’s Official Position

Following the AFCON 2025 final, CAF initially confirmed Senegal as champions after rejecting Morocco’s protest. The governing body imposed sanctions and fines on both teams for unsporting behavior during the match but made no publicly accessible statement stripping Senegal of the title.




CAF’s disciplinary framework does allow for extreme measures, such as disqualification or forfeiture, but these are reserved for serious breaches like match-fixing, ineligible players, or refusal to continue a match, conditions not met in this case.




A European Comparison: Lille vs Manchester United (2007)



In February 2007, during a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match, Lille OSC briefly walked off the pitch in protest after Ryan Giggs of Manchester United F.C. scored from a quick free kick they thought was taken prematurely.


 • Lille players returned within minutes.


• The match resumed, and the goal stood.



This incident demonstrates how on-field disputes can be resolved without stripping teams of results when games are completed and referee authority is respected.



Why AFCON Is Different, Yet Similar



While CAF regulations differ from UEFA, the principle remains the same:


• Walking off alone does not automatically trigger forfeiture.


• Any title-stripping would require major misconduct beyond brief protest.



This contrast highlights the importance of distinguishing media reports from verified governing body announcements.



Sensational headlines about Senegal being stripped of the AFCON trophy lack a primary source from CAF’s official channels as of now.



Conclusion


The controversy surrounding Senegal’s AFCON 2025 final win underscores how quickly football narratives can spread online. Comparisons with the Lille vs Manchester United match show that brief walk-offs, when resolved on the field, do not usually alter results.



Until CAF issues an official, visible statement confirming any reversal, Senegal remains AFCON 2025 champions, and claims to the contrary should be treated with caution.

Comments

Post a Comment

Join the conversation!
Have insights, corrections, or questions about this news story? Drop your comment below. We value civil, fact-based discussion.

Popular posts from this blog

Media Outreach Newswire

" style="clear: both;">
Post a Comment
Read more

Media Outreach Newswire

Post a Comment
Read more

BREAKING: Esa-Oke Youths Reunite as Survivors, Caution Pelumi against revisionism

....we’re not your campaign slogan Once upon a glorious, chaotic 2017, practically every able-bodied youth in Esa-Oke held honorary title in the land: Personal Assistant to Barrister Pelumi Olajengbesi. No interviews. No pay. Just passion, blind loyalty, and the stamina to chase him from one campaign ground to the next like a political body double. From Comrade Mainframe to Comrade Swiss, from Yinka Oba to the humble football boys who carried cones like national flags, we were there. We were the movement. Until, of course. Now in 2025, Barrister Pelumi, clearly inspired by a Netflix political drama is on a media tour telling anyone who’ll listen that he "settled everyone who worked for him." Settled who, please? Maybe in his dreams or in the metaverse. In the real world, the story’s a bit different. Those of us from Obokun, who hustled day and night, got exactly zero: no thank you, no handshake. Take Sami, now a former Ward 7 councillor, no thanks from Pelumi. Folusho? Aregbe...
Post a Comment
Read more

Assassination Attempt: Police can’t deny what’s on their desk, says Amotekun boss

  The Corps Commander of the Osun Amotekun Corps , High Chief Dr Hon. Adekunle Isaac Omoyele , who is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital following an attempted assassination on his life on Monday, has strongly refuted the claims made by the Osun State Police Spokeperson regarding the incident. Reacting to the statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), who claimed that investigations had not commenced because the Commander had not provided evidence of the attack, the Amotekun boss expressed deep disappointment, labeling the police response as insensitive and misleading. "It is shocking that a police spokesperson would say there is no evidence of an attack when the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ota-Efun Division — the nearest jurisdiction to the incident — was immediately informed," the Commander said. "Officers from that division visited the scene the same night, assessed the damage, evacuated the vehicle, and advised me to seek ...
Post a Comment
Read more