Habib Beye, the president of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), has publicly criticized the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for its decision to reverse the result of a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier between Senegal and Benin. The match, originally played on June 10, 2025, ended in a 1-1 draw but was later awarded as a 3-0 forfeit win to Benin by CAF's Disciplinary Board due to an ineligible Senegalese player.
Beye expressed his frustration in an interview with Senegalese media, stating the reversal was "incomprehensible" given that CAF had initially validated the match result. "Two months after having endorsed a result, it is quite incomprehensible," Beye was quoted as saying. He confirmed that Senegal has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The controversy stems from Senegal fielding defender Joseph Gomez, who was allegedly serving a suspension. The FSF maintains that all player eligibility procedures were correctly followed. The forfeit loss is a significant setback for Senegal's World Cup qualifying campaign in Group B.
CAF has not issued a detailed public statement on the specific timeline of its decision-making process. The case now awaits a ruling from CAS, which will determine the final outcome of the match and impact the group standings.
