Ismaël Jakobs has reignited the controversy, lending weight to the suspicions of poisoning that struck three "Lions of Teranga" before the match.
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Nearly a week after the chaotic 2025 AFCON final, won by Senegal against Morocco (1-0 after extra time), the mystery surrounding the withdrawal of several Senegalese players is deepening. This time, it is Ismaël Jakobs who has reignited the controversy, lending weight to the suspicions of poisoning that struck three « Lions of Teranga » before the match.
In an interview with Sportdigital, reported by several international media outlets, the Galatasaray left-back was unambiguous: « I strongly suspect that three of our players were poisoned, and it wasn’t just simple food poisoning. These three players actually collapsed. » These are serious accusations that add a heavy cloud over a final that has taken on the appearance of an unprecedented scandal.
A Series of Sudden Collapses
On the morning of the final, three Senegalese players were forced to withdraw:
- Krépin Diatta: Suffered a dizzy spell during the warm-up and had to be replaced.
- Ousseynou Niang: Forced to withdraw minutes later under dramatic circumstances, escorted by teammates and visibly weakened.
- Pape Matar Sarr: According to several Senegalese sources, he was also affected by a sudden illness during the halftime break, adding to the medical staff’s anxiety.
« It was truly frightening. I don’t want to accuse anyone, but it certainly wasn’t a coincidence, » Jakobs insisted. « They were all unable to hold their heads up. Krépin Diatta couldn’t straighten his head; they literally collapsed. »
Player Testimonies
Krépin Diatta himself spoke out earlier this week: « On the morning of the match, I didn’t feel very well, but I thought it would pass. The real problem started while leaving for the stadium. I was hurting everywhere—my head, many things. It was very strange. That was when the staff decided to replace me. »
As suspicions reach worrying proportions, the controversy surrounding this final is shaping up to be one of the most troubling scandals in recent AFCON history.
