Senegal moves AFCON trophy to military base, protected by soldiers

Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) triumph has been thrown into fresh controversy following reports that head coach Pape Thiaw moved the trophy to a military base amid an ongoing dispute with Morocco over the title.

According to multiple reports, the trophy was taken to a secure military facility where it is now under armed guard. Soldiers were reportedly allowed to take photographs with the silverware, in what observers see as a symbolic move to assert Senegal’s claim to the title.

The development comes after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarded Morocco a technical victory in the final, overturning Senegal’s on-field success and naming the North African side champions, a decision that has sparked outrage in Dakar.

“Senegal Coach took the AFCON to their military base today. It’s now positioned in the centre of their military camp.

Protecting what rightfully belongs to them” Topskills sports UK wrote on their X page

Senegalese football authorities have rejected the ruling and filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), insisting the title was “won on merit” and should not be decided administratively.

The dispute has drawn strong reactions from players and officials. Captain Kalidou Koulibaly has publicly challenged CAF’s decision, while officials within the Senegalese federation have maintained that surrendering the trophy before a final legal ruling would be premature.

Morocco, however, have accepted the decision, with players and officials celebrating the verdict as confirmation of their championship status.

The controversy has raised broader concerns about governance and disciplinary consistency within African football, with analysts warning that the outcome of the case could set a major precedent for future competitions.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe has called for calm, promising transparency and fairness as the governing body comes under increasing scrutiny.

The AFCON, widely regarded as Africa’s premier football tournament, has grown in global importance in recent years, making the dispute particularly sensitive for the sport’s reputation on the continent.

With the case now before CAS, the final ownership of the trophy remains uncertain, as African football awaits a decisive ruling in one of its most contentious disputes in recent history. (The Guardian, but headline reworked)

IGP Olatunji Disu Hands Over N2.43 Billion Cheques To Families Of 1,075 Fallen Police Officers

On Wednesday March 18, 2026, Inspector General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu presented cheques worth over N2.43 billion to 1,075 families of police officers who died while serving the country. 

The money comes from the Nigeria Police Force's Group Life Assurance Scheme and the IGP Family Welfare Scheme. 

These schemes help provide financial support to the next of kin of officers killed in active service.

The total amount disbursed was N2,435,421,584.11. It covers insurance policy years from 2018 up to 2026, including some old outstanding claims.

This payment is part of ongoing efforts by the police leadership to look after the welfare of officers and their families. 

Similar disbursements have happened in past years under previous IGPs, with billions paid out over time to honor fallen heroes and ease the burden on their loved ones.

Sultan Of Sokoto Declares Friday As Eid‑El‑Fitr

His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, has announced that the Shawwal moon was not sighted anywhere in Nigeria, and therefore Friday, March 20 2026, will be observed as Eid‑El‑Fitr. 

This aligns with the official statement from the Sultanate Council, which confirmed that no credible moon‑sighting reports were received on Wednesday, March 18, the 29th day of Ramadan 1447 AH.

 The declaration formally marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal

Nigeria's IGP Disu Orders Resit Of Promotion Exam For Senior Officers Sidelined Under EX IGP Egbetokun

Inspector‑General of Police Olatunji Disu has ordered a special resit promotion examination for senior police officers who were reportedly sidelined during former IGP Kayode Egbetokun’s tenure, which insiders allege was marred by a “cash‑for‑rank” bribery scheme.

 A confidential wireless message dated March 16, 2026, shows that the Police Service Commission has rescheduled promotion exams for DCPs, ACPs, CSPs, and SPs who were marked “not successful” in the December 2025 and March 2026 cycles.

 The resit will include both a written exam and an interactive session..

AFCON final result overturned as CAF strips Senegal of title, awards Morocco 3-0 victory

In a stunning and unprecedented decision, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially declared Morocco the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), stripping Senegal of the title following a post-final ruling.

 The decision comes after the dramatic scenes in Rabat where the Lions of Teranga walked off the pitch in protest at a late penalty given against them. 

Senegal won the match with Pape Gueye netting the winner in extra-time, but the victory came in controversial circumstances after Senegal had walked off the pitch in protest during the original 90 minutes. 

They were aggrieved by two decisions, the first of which saw Ismaila Sarr’s goal chalked off, before Morocco were awarded a penalty at the death after VAR intervention. 

Senegal manager Pape Thiaw appeared to urge his side to leave the field, before they went down the tunnel and re-emerged around 15 minutes later, before Brahim Diaz missed the penalty to force extra-time.

 On Tuesday, the Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) announced that, as a result, Senegal forfeited the game, rendering Morocco champions with a 3-0 win. 

A statement read: “The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) Appeal Board decided today that in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 (“the Match”). 

” With the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).”