Guinea faces uncertainty over its qualification for the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Morocco amid growing concerns over the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) decision concerning its recent match against Tanzania.
On December 24, 2024, the CAF's Disciplinary Jury rejected the Guinea Football Federation's (Feguifoot) appeal following the match (match n°143) held on November 19, 2024. The match's outcome and the reasons behind this decision have stirred significant unrest, leading the Guinean football authorities to seek clarity on the ruling.
Since the rejection, Feguifoot has requested detailed explanations of the ruling, prompting Ibrahima Blasco Barry, the federation's Secretary General, to write to the CAF on December 26, 2024. "We are formally requesting the communication of the motivation for this decision, as stipulated by the provisions mentioned," Barry wrote, asserting the urgency of this request which aligns with FIFA's disciplinary codes.
Despite the federation's efforts, there has been no adequate response from the CAF, leading Barry to initiate another letter dated January 10, 2025, expressing the federation's concerns over the lack of response. He emphasized, "We express our concerns about the absence of feedback to date concerning our request made on December 26, 2024, for the communication of the motives behind decision DC23192. This lack of response is severely limiting our ability to proceed with our appeal within the prescribed timeline as required by the regulations."
Barry highlighted the procedural importance, stating, "The absence of response to our request prevents Feguifoot from properly conducting any appeal procedure according to the applicable rules. Therefore, we insist on the urgent communication of this decision's motives. This step is key to ensuring compliance with our procedural rights and allowing us to act within regulatory timelines."
The CAF did acknowledge the Guinean federation's correspondence, as noted by Yassin Osman Robleh, head of Judicial Affairs at CAF, who confirmed receipt of the letter on January 14, 2025. Robleh assured, "Please note the motives of decision n° DC23192 will be communicated to you in due course." This note has not quelled the anxieties raised by the Guinean officials, as they seek answers before the CAN 2025 draw is scheduled for January 27, 2025.
Critics have raised questions about inconsistency within the CAF's processes, particularly as motivations for other disciplinary decisions have been publicly disclosed, unlike the case of Guinea. Observers have pointed out the absence of Guinean representatives within CAF's decision-making bodies as potentially indicative of the adversities faced by the nation. This lack of representation is suggested to contribute to the unfavorable decisions affecting Guinea's football aspirations.
The controversy surrounding the match against Tanzania adds another layer to the situation, with many questioning if players could use different jersey numbers from those they registered under. This decision not only has wide-ranging impacts on the participating teams but also on the integrity of football governance within Africa.
With the clock ticking and pressures mounting, the Guinean federation's pursuit of answers remains unresolved. The CAF is being urged to clarify its stance and provide the necessary information to allow Feguifoot to process its appeal effectively and within the regulatory framework established.
Feguifoot continues to call for transparency and accountability from the CAF to uphold the principles of fairness and justice within African football. The outcome of this dispute could have lasting consequences for Guinea's football ambitions as the nation strives to qualify and compete on the continental stage.