The Africa Cup of Nations has been marred by refereeing controversies, culminating in a chaotic final between Senegal and host Morocco. The match was overshadowed by several contentious decisions, including a disputed penalty awarded to Morocco in stoppage time, which sparked a 20-minute delay as Senegal players walked off the pitch in protest. The incident led to FIFA president Gianni Infantino condemning the behavior, calling it “unacceptable” and urging the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to take action.
The controversy has raised questions about the consistency and fairness of refereeing in the tournament, with some alleging bias towards the host nation, Morocco. Former French referee Bruno Derrien criticized the referee, Jean-Jacques Ndala, for lacking authority and making questionable decisions. The Moroccan coach, Walid Regragui, defended his team, saying they were the “team to beat” and that opponents would try to find excuses for their loss.
