CAF's decision to overturn Senegal's 1-0 victory in the Cup of Nations final has led to significant backlash, with the Senegalese Football Federation appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
We will contact our lawyers and file an appeal. We will stop at nothing. The law is on our side. This decision is a disgrace for Africa. The timing is really bad. CAF should have taken a decision earlier, quicker. The situation has only rotted more and more.
Fifa fined the NFF 1,000 Swiss francs ($1,270; 950) after determining that the federation had failed to ensure proper "order and security", particularly following the "throwing of objects" by spectators during the game. The incident was deemed a violation under Article 17.2.b and Article 17 of the Fifa disciplinary code.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) submitted a complaint to Fifa in December, arguing that Leopards players such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe - both former England youth internationals - were ineligible because Congolese law does not allow dual citizenship. While a section of the Super Eagles fanbase is hoping the side could secure a lifeline, others are questioning the fairness of a potential qualification by appeal.
In Saturday's game against Millwall Cleworth became the leading appearance-maker of Phil Parkinson's reign, surpassing Paul Mullin's 172 games under the English boss. Cleworth, still only 23, is Wrexham's final on-field survivor of the National League days, though Davis Keillor-Dunn and Ryan Barnett, who has played 12 times in the league this season, have recently returned. Since his debut while a 17-year-old academy player in the Scottish Challenge Cup in 2019, the Chester-born defender has made 175 appearances in red.