**Morocco Wins Afcon, But Controversy Surrounds the Award** In a thrilling conclusion to the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), Morocco was declared the winner after the Confederation of African Football (Caf) awarded them the title. However, this decision has sparked controversy, with the Senegalese government accusing Caf of corruption and bias. The drama unfolded during the final match between Senegal and Morocco, where torrential rain caused difficulties for both teams. Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy struggled to keep his gloves dry, but the ball boys repeatedly tried to take away his towel, leading to a heated exchange. At one point, reserve goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf was physically restrained by three ball boys after trying to intervene. Additionally, the fine imposed on Moroccan fans for shining lasers at the players on the pitch was reduced by Caf. Many have raised questions about the fairness of these decisions, suggesting that there may be "political interference" at play, given that the president of the Moroccan Football Association, Fouzi Lekjaa, is also the first vice-president of Caf. Critics argue that the game should be decided on the pitch, not in the boardroom. Raymond Hack, a lawyer and former head of disciplinary at Caf, believes that the Moroccan players should have informed the referee that they were playing under protest if they intended to challenge the result. The Senegalese government has expressed its disappointment with the Caf decision, while Moroccans are celebrating their team's victory. Moroccan journalist Jalal Bounar described the reaction as "great excitement and joy across the country." However, the controversy surrounding the award is likely to continue, with Senegal's appeal potentially taking up to six months to be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas). As football fans in Nigeria know, controversy often surrounds major tournaments. The drama surrounding the Afcon award is a reminder that, even in the beautiful game, politics and bias can sometimes play a role.