Explosive Revelation Rocks AFCON Final As The Refereeing Chief Admits Key Decision

Explosive Revelation Rocks AFCON Final As The Refereeing Chief Admits Key Decision

By Sampson Adedeji 

An explosive revelation from the head of refereeing has cast fresh doubts over the official account of the chaotic final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), raising serious questions about how the match was managed at a critical juncture, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

According to the admission, instructions were allegedly issued to refrain from penalizing Senegalese players who temporarily withdrew from the pitch during a tense and disorderly phase of the game. 

The rationale, it was claimed, was to “avoid the match being abandoned.”

The final of the Africa Cup of Nations descended into confusion following a controversial decision that sparked protests and a prolonged interruption lasting approximately 16 minutes.

 During that period, match control appeared to slip, with players and officials engaged in heated exchanges amid mounting tension inside the stadium.

The revelation suggests that instead of applying the Laws of the Game strictly which could have led to sanctions or even abandonment officials opted for a pragmatic approach aimed at ensuring the completion of the fixture.

This development significantly strengthens the position of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, which has lodged a formal appeal challenging aspects of the final’s officiating and match management.

 The federation has argued that procedural irregularities and inconsistent disciplinary enforcement materially affected the integrity of the contest.

If verified, the admission could have far-reaching consequences for the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the tournament’s governing authority. 

It raises concerns not only about refereeing standards but also about whether reputational considerations influenced sporting decisions at the highest level of African football.

Observers are now asking whether the match was effectively “managed” outside established regulatory frameworks to prevent a diplomatic and institutional embarrassment, particularly with global scrutiny from FIFA.

CAF has yet to issue a detailed response to the claims, but pressure is mounting for transparency. Should the allegations be substantiated, they may prompt disciplinary reviews, governance reforms, and potential sanctions.

For now, what was meant to be a celebration of continental football excellence has become the subject of one of the most serious officiating controversies in AFCON history.