“The idea that the host nation must win by hook or crook was what led to the fiasco in Morocco. That justice prevailed at the end is a testimony that God still intervenes in the affairs of men”.
BY OLUSEGUN ADENIYI
The African Cup of Nations (AFCON) ended last Sunday in Morocco on a controversial note. The host country had benefited from dubious officiating throughout the tournament, including in their semi-final match against Nigeria. But at the final against Senegal with the world watching, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) did not care very much about fair play.
The match officials, including centre referee and Video Assistant Referees (VAR), seemed determined that Morocco must win. Beside ruling out a good goal scored by Senegal, Morocco were awarded a soft penalty right at the end of the match. Angered, the Senegalese manager, Pape Thiaw ordered his players to leave the pitch. Although they returned after around 15 minutes—thanks to their most renowned player, Sadio Mane—when the game resumed, Brahim Diaz missed the contentious spot-kick for Morocco. The game went into extra time and Senegal scored the winning goal to the damnation of CAF whose officials seem to have bought into the nonsense by some western media commentators about African football. Because of the lies being sold that what the Senegalese players did was unprecedented. It wasn’t.
In the game between Kuwait and France during the 1982 World Cup hosted by Spain, Kuwaiti players walked out of the pitch when France scored a goal at a time their players had paused play because of a whistle blow that turned out to have come from the crowd. Kuwait only came back to the field after the goal was chalked off by the referee, although France still went on to win. Also, during a World Cup qualifying match in November 2023 between Argentina and Brazil, Lionel Messi, (yes, the same GOAT) led the reigning World Cup champions to walk off the field after the booing of Argentina’s national anthem had provoked their fans to anger. And Argentina did not return to the field of play until about 30 minutes later for the match they eventually won.
What the foregoing says is that there is nothing unprecedented about what Senegal did at AFCON in the face of glaring injustice even when one does not condone it. But the real problem is with CAF that needs to put its house in order. The idea that the host nation must win by hook or crook was what led to the fiasco in Morocco. That justice prevailed at the end is a testimony that God still intervenes in the affairs of men. Congratulations to the Terenga Lions of Senegal. They are worthy champions. And congratulations to Sadio Mane. A true African hero!
- You can follow me on my X (formerly Twitter) handle, @Olusegunverdict and on www.olusegunadeniyi.com
