Men's AFCON 2025 Bizarre Twist

When I did a report on AFCON 2025 I mentioned the final had some bizarre moments, without elaborating. Highlights of the game by CAF are sanitised, restricted to areas that I'm excluded from or such poor quality. I'll try to piece what happened together.

In regular time late in the second half, Senegal had a goal disallowed for a foul in the build up. The game ends 0-0. I found the extra time timelines vague. Sometime in extra time, Morocco were awarded a penalty and the Senegal players walked off the pitch in protest. The game was help up for at least 15 minutes until the Senegalese players returned. The penalty kick was taken and not scored. 

Senegal went on to score a goal and win the tournament. Morocco felt the walk off should have ended the match and it be awarded to them and lodged an appeal. It finally came, back in Morocco's favour and they were awarded the game 3-0. Now Senegal is going to appeal that decision.

This whole thing could have been handled differently. I thought that the referee should have gone to the Senegal camp and said if all the players aren't back in five minutes and in their places for the penalty, you will forfeit the game.  

The referee is the final arbiter and if he handled it poorly, so be it. By allowing the walkoff not to be punished at the time, that was his call. I don't agree with it, but that should stand. By making a retrospective decision, this could establish a precedent for other games having decisions overturned after the match is concluded. 

The referee was weak and CAFs belated ruling makes the game in Africa look poorly run. Senegal should be the winners despite their petulant behaviour because the referee didn't act against it at the time. What a farce but then again, it is Africa we're talking here. 

The Corner Kick

Once upon a time, players stood in the 18 yard box and waited for the ball to be crossed before moving. Somewhere along the line, it was decided that an advantage could be achieved by jostling, pushing, pulling and obstructing opponents. The calm has been replaced by the chaotic.  

Is there an easy fix? Some suggest harsh penalties for offenders but I don't think that is the answer. Determining when a defender has gone too far in trying to put an attacking player off is difficult, because it can be slyly done. What about an attacker standing right in front of the goalie? At what point has he got too close. Again, open to interpretation. 

One possibility is having all players outside the 18 yard box until the kick is taken. Once the ball is kicked, say four from each team are allowed to run into the box and contest for the ball. Only when the ball is cleared out of the box is the minimum player restriction lifted. 

It sounds simple and would make it easier for officials to police a smaller number of players. There could still be rules around players pushing or obstructing unfairly, but that probably wouldn't be a major issue.