In a significant development within the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Samir Sobha, a member of the CAF Executive Committee, made a startling revelation regarding the events that transpired during the final match of the Africa Cup of Nations, recently held in the Moroccan capital, Rabat. These statements shed light on the refereeing and organizational controversies that surrounded the decisive match.

Sobha, who wields considerable administrative influence after being re-elected to the Executive Committee in March of last year, offered a sincere and public apology to the Kingdom of Morocco for what he described as "the great injustice inflicted upon the Moroccan people and their national team." The Moroccan team had lost the title 1-0 to Senegal in a match marked by lengthy stoppages and widespread protests, particularly after a controversial penalty kick was awarded, which led to the Senegalese team walking off the pitch before returning to resume play after a full 15 minutes.

In terms of the legal and regulatory background, this incident sets a dangerous precedent in continental championship finals. FIFA and CAF regulations clearly stipulate severe penalties for teams leaving the pitch in protest against refereeing decisions. Experts believe that the failure to strictly enforce these regulations in such major tournaments opens the door to a recurrence of chaotic scenarios that negatively impact the reputation of African football globally, especially given the increasing international attention given to the continent's competitions.

The Guardian quoted the African official as saying: "I appeal to the Moroccan Football Federation to forgive us for the injustice done to them… The rules were not properly respected in this match… They were robbed of the prize." He further explained the legal error: "It is clear that after the Senegalese team left the field, all players should have been penalized with a yellow card according to the laws of the game, which did not happen, thus violating the principle of equal opportunity and sportsmanship.".

Sobha continued, his tone laced with regret and realism: "I'm not saying we shouldn't award the cup to Senegal. What happened has already happened and is now in the past; we can't change the result mathematically… But we must overcome our differences and courageously acknowledge that an injustice was done to the Moroccan team. After a thorough review of the tournament regulations, I am absolutely certain of the validity of my position." These statements carry significant weight as they come from within the CAF's decision-making circles, potentially prompting a comprehensive review of the refereeing system and crisis management in future tournaments to ensure such blunders, which undermine the efforts of both host and competing teams, are not repeated.

Portuguese Rui Pedro, the sporting director of Al-Ahli Saudi Club, revealed pleasant surprises for the fans of "Al-Raqui" regarding the future of the first football team stars, confirming that there is a strong desire among a large number of players to renew their contracts and continue with the club's project, despite receiving tempting offers to return to European stadiums.

In important statements he made to Sky Sports, Pedro highlighted the psychological and technical stability that the team's players are experiencing, saying: "There are a large number of players who joined us in the summer of 2023 and the summer of 2024 who are very keen to renew their contracts because of their great happiness here in the Kingdom. Many of them already have better offers from major European clubs, yet they choose to stay and extend their journey with us.".

The Al-Ahli sporting director added that this commitment to staying represents "a very strong message to every player in Europe who is thinking of experiencing Saudi football," noting that the Saudi league is no longer just a passing stop, but has become an attractive destination that provides a high-level professional and competitive environment.

The context of the major transformation in Al-Ahli and Saudi football

Rui Pedro's statements come at a time when Saudi football is experiencing an unprecedented boom that effectively began in the summer of 2023, when Al-Ahli, then newly promoted to the Professional League, made high-profile signings, bringing in international stars such as Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, Edouard Mendy, and Franck Kessié. These stars not only added technical quality to the pitch but also contributed to raising the market value and marketing potential of the Saudi Professional League, making their desire to renew their contracts a strong testament to the success of the Saudi sports project and its ability to maintain its gains.

Franck Kessie's future and the challenges of the transfer market

Meanwhile, attention is focused on the contract renewal process for players nearing the end of the current season, with Ivorian star Franck Kessié, the team's midfielder and one of its key players, topping the list. Reports indicate that Kessié is attracting significant interest from several clubs looking to acquire his services during the upcoming summer transfer window. However, Pedro's recent statements offer a positive indication that he may remain with Al Ahly.

Maintaining the core of the team, especially influential players like Kessie, is a top priority for the club's management to ensure competition for local and continental titles in the coming seasons, especially in light of the fierce competition with other clubs in the fund.

Preparing for upcoming matches

On the field, Al-Ahli's first football team continues its intensive preparations for its upcoming match against Al-Najma in the next round of the Roshan Professional League. The match is scheduled to take place at Al-Inma Stadium, where Al-Ahli aims to secure a victory and claim the three points to continue its climb up the league standings and delight its large fan base.

In a remarkable development in continental sporting events, the Asian Football Confederation rejected the official request submitted by the Saudi clubs participating in the AFC Champions League, which included an urgent desire to amend the start dates of the Round of 16 matches to suit the spirituality and timings of the holy month of Ramadan.

Details of the Asian rejection and the Saudi clubs' justifications:
Informed sources confirmed that the Asian Football Confederation's competitions department adhered to the previously set schedule, rejecting the Saudi proposal to postpone the kickoff to at least 10:00 PM Mecca time. The Saudi request aimed to give players and fans ample time after breaking their fast and performing Taraweeh prayers, ensuring a large crowd and optimal player fitness.

Based on this decision, it was confirmed that the match between Al-Ahli Saudi Club and its Qatari counterpart Al-Duhail will be held at Al-Inma Stadium at 9:15 pm, a time that the clubs considered relatively early during the nights of the holy month.

The
Asian Champions League round of 16 is set to feature some high-profile matches this March, with the first legs taking place on March 3rd and 4th, and the decisive second legs on March 10th and 11th. All eyes will be on the Saudi Arabian clubs as they look to dominate this year's competition.

• Al-Hilal Saudi Club: faces a strong challenge against Al-Sadd Qatari Club.
• Al-Ahli Saudi: clashes with its Qatari counterpart Al-Duhail in a Gulf summit.
• The Saudi Federation will face Al Wahda of the UAE in a highly anticipated match.

The context of the tournament and the importance of its timing
give this edition of the AFC Champions League exceptional significance, as it comes within the framework of the new structure of Asian competitions aimed at raising the technical and marketing level of the game in the continent. Saudi clubs are considered the strongest contenders for the title due to the significant support and international signings they have recently made.

Playing during Ramadan presents a physiological challenge for professional players, requiring a strict dietary regimen to replenish fluids and energy in the short time between Iftar (breaking the fast) and the match. Furthermore, match timing directly impacts attendance, as fans in the Arab region prefer sporting events to start later in the evening after completing religious observances and family obligations. This makes the Asian Football Confederation's decision an additional challenge for host clubs to ensure full stadiums.