Johannesburg: The journalist at the Johannesburg-based sports website “FARpost” stated that Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala “did not manage the final properly,” noting that he should have ensured rules were properly enforced regarding “the Senegalese players who withdraw from the field for about fifteen minutes during stoppage time.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, “in fact, the referee did not handle the match well and did not do what he was supposed to do,” he emphasized in a statement to MAP, noting that the applicable rules and regulations are “very clear.” He continued that “when the Senegalese players left the field, the referee should have ended the match by declaring Morocco the winner,” criticizing his decision to continue the game.

In defense of African football’s image, he stressed the importance of improving refereeing standards, which are essential for promoting the sport across the continent. The CAF Appeal Board has decided, in application of Article 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations, to declare the Senegal national team forfeited in the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, with the result being recorded as a 3-0 victory for the Atlas Lions.

The Board ruled following the appeal filed by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation regarding the application of Articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations.