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PRESIDENT FAYE REWARDS SENEGAL AFCON HEROES WITH CASH AND COASTAL LAND IN DAKAR

Sadio Mane leads Senegal's AFCON victory parade in Dakar. Discover the details of the walk-off protest and the $134,000 player rewards.

President Faye rewards Senegal AFCON heroes with cash and coastal land in Dakar
Senegal crowned AFCON champions

Senegal’s national team came home to a hero’s welcome after their Africa Cup of Nations victory, and the celebrations were just getting started.

The squad—featuring Liverpool icon Sadio Mane—rolled through Dakar on an open-top bus, waving to packed crowds. Later, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye greeted them at the palace.

Their win over Morocco was wild. Pape Gueye smashed home a goal in extra time, sealing the title. But that’s just part of it. Late in the match, the referee gave Morocco a penalty after El Hadji Malick Diouf’s challenge on Brahim Diaz. Senegal’s coach, Pape Thiaw, wasn’t having it. He told his players to leave the pitch in protest, and they did—except for Mane, who stayed put. The standoff lasted 17 minutes before they finally returned.

When play resumed, Edouard Mendy faced Diaz’s cheeky Panenka penalty and saved it easily. That save clinched Senegal’s second AFCON title.

Dakar was electric on Tuesday. Thousands lined the streets, singing and cheering as the team passed by. At the palace, President Faye addressed the players, calling them “Lions” who had honoured the nation. “You’ve shown that when Senegalese people move forward together, nothing’s out of reach,” he told them.

Then came the rewards. Each of the 28 players got 75 million CFA francs—about $134,000—and a 1,500-square-meter plot of land by the coast. Federation members received 50 million CFA francs (around $89,000) and 1,000 square meters, while members of the delegation got 20 million CFA francs (about $35,000) and 500 square meters.

Mane played a key role off the pitch, too. He convinced his teammates to return after the penalty protest. “It would have been a shame to see things end that way,” he said. “Imagine leaving the locker room and the match is just over. That’s not the image we want for African football. The game’s grown so much, and the whole world’s watching.”

He added, “I did what I had to do. Walking off over a referee’s penalty call? That’s not how we want to play. I’d rather lose than see that happen to our football.”

Even with the victory, Senegal still waits to hear what kind of penalties the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will hand down for their protest. CAF said in a statement that they’re reviewing all the footage and will take action against anyone found guilty.

MARSEILLE MELTDOWN: WHY MEDHI BENATIA QUIT AFTER A BITTER MASON GREENWOOD FALLOUT

Marseille meltdown: Medhi Benatia resigns as Sporting Director after clashes with Mason Greenwood. Get the latest on De Zerbi’s exit.

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Medhi Benatia Resigns From Marseille

Marseille’s sporting director, Medhi Benatia, has quit his job after reports of friction with Mason Greenwood, the former Manchester United striker.

It’s a tough time for the club. Benatia’s exit comes with pressure piling up; Marseille’s going through a rough patch that also saw Roberto De Zerbi walk out. De Zerbi left after that brutal 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The team are sitting in fourth, and they just missed out on the next round of the Champions League in dramatic fashion.

Benatia, who used to play for Morocco and had a solid career with Bayern Munich, Roma, and Juventus, confirmed he’s stepping down. In his statement, he didn’t hold back: “Since I got here, I’ve poured my heart into this job with one goal: getting Marseille back where it belongs. I know this club inside out. I understand what it asks of you and the passion behind it.”

He tried to keep things positive: “We’re still in the fight. Making the Champions League is within reach, and we’re still gunning for the Coupe de France. Even with the setbacks and bad luck, the project’s still moving forward on the pitch. But I can’t ignore what’s happening around us.”

Benatia pointed to growing frustration and a communication breakdown: “In Marseille, results speak for themselves. You know I don’t sugarcoat things. With all the tension in management, I’ve handed in my resignation because, to me, the club always comes first. I don’t want to be an obstacle or a burden.”

He finished with a note of regret: “I did everything I could, but I couldn’t calm things down around the team even though I really believe they can hit their targets.”

Apparently, Benatia and Greenwood just didn’t get along. Greenwood’s been crucial for Marseille since joining in 2024, and while De Zerbi backed him publicly, things between Benatia and Greenwood reportedly got icy. L’Equipe claimed the two barely spoke, and Benatia didn’t hide his criticism on or off the field.

Some say Benatia got fed up with Greenwood ignoring commercial duties last summer and not caring about the fallout. Now De Zerbi’s on the market, a familiar name for clubs like Manchester United and Tottenham, both hunting for new managers.

De Zerbi’s already been linked to United before. After his stint at Brighton, he was apparently considered for the Old Trafford job before they stuck with Erik ten Hag.

ARRESTS AT THE MKM: WHY POLICE INTERVENED DURING HULL CITY’S FA CUP DEFEAT

Police made arrests at the MKM Stadium as Chelsea beat Hull 4-0. Read the full report on Pedro Neto's hat-trick and the fan fallout.

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Hull City And Police Crushed Discriminatory Chanting During Cup Clash

Hull City say police made arrests after fans started up discriminatory chants during their 4-0 FA Cup loss to Chelsea on Friday night. Early in the game, the stadium’s PA system cut in with a warning: stop the chanting, or face arrest. Stewards and police didn’t mess around in the second half; the club announced they’d actually detained some supporters.

The chant targeted Chelsea and was homophobic. It’s not the first time this kind of thing has happened. Back in 2022, the Crown Prosecution Service made it clear that a certain lyric in the chant is a homophobic slur, and using it can land you in legal trouble. Just ask Paul Boardman, a Liverpool fan who got slapped with a Wembley ban and a £500 fine for shouting it at a train station.

Meanwhile, the game itself got away from Hull. Chelsea rolled over them, with Pedro Neto bagging a hat-trick. Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic still found a few positives, though. He liked the team’s defensive setup and thought they could’ve used their counterattacks better. “We deserved at least one goal,” he said, “but if we play like this, we’ll be in a good spot in the Championship.” He’s already thinking ahead to the next match against QPR.

On the other side, Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior was back at the MKM Stadium, his old stomping ground. He was buzzing about his team’s attitude and effort, especially in the first half. “Hull are flying in the Championship, and I hope they make the Premier League,” he said. “But our mentality and quality tonight made the difference.” He singled out Pedro Neto for his work rate and finishing, but really, he seemed proud of the whole squad. “Everyone put in a shift. The mentality was spot on.”

The night was extra special for Rosenior. He had more than 20 family members in the stands and got warm applause from both sets of fans. “This club means a lot to my family and me,” he said. “I really appreciate the welcome. It was a good night all around.”

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