Senegal captain Sadio Mané has allegedly refused a request from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to return his 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Player of the Tournament award, according to circulating reports.
Unverified claims online suggest that CAF had sought to reassign the accolade following reported controversies surrounding the tournament’s outcome and award decisions.
However, Mané is said to have rejected the move, insisting he earned the recognition “on the pitch, not in the boardroom.”
Sources cited by some sports outlets and widely shared social media posts allege that the forward has chosen to retain the trophy despite the reported request.
Read Also:
- Guinea pushes for 1976 AFCON title as CAF faces pressure over consistency
- AFCON 2025 Controversy: Senegal to appeal CAF decision awarding title to Morocco amid Trophy relocation claims
- CAF strips Senegal of AFCON title, awards trophy to Morocco after final controversy
The development comes amid growing online speculation about the integrity of the 2025 AFCON awards process, though no formal details have been confirmed by CAF or tournament organizers.
As of the time of filing this report, CAF has not released any official statement regarding the alleged recall of the award, while Mané has also not publicly addressed the claims.
Fact-checking platforms have since cautioned that the reports remain unverified, with some labeling the story as potentially false due to the absence of credible confirmation from official sources.
The situation continues to generate debate across football circles, with fans and analysts calling for clarity from CAF to address the swirling allegations.
