With the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly presumably disappearing into the rearview mirror, the battle for the Ballon d'Or hasn't felt so open for the best part of 20 years, with countless players now beginning each campaign believing they have a chance of claiming the most prestigious individual prize football has to offer. Ousmane Dembele emerged from a career plagued by injuries and inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he is among a crowded field of contenders again in 2026.
Pape Gueye has hit back at Confederation of African Football (CAF) following the governing body's decision to strip Senegal of their Africa Cup of Nations title. The midfielder insists the squad have no intention of returning their winners' medals while the case is appealed.
CAF President raises the issue of Senegalese detainees in Morocco
The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has formally opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the detention of several Senegalese citizens in Morocco. This rare diplomatic intervention underscores the continent’s leading football body’s growing concern about the well-being of citizens from one member nation while they are present in another.
Details remain scarce, but sources close to the CAF say the decision to act followed repeated appeals from Senegalese football officials who believe the situation could affect bilateral sporting relations. The move is being closely watched by both governments, as well as by fans across West Africa who see football as a unifying force capable of transcending political boundaries.
In a brief statement released late yesterday, the CAF confirmed that its leader had “initiated a process” to gather accurate information about the number, conditions, an