Fresh controversy has emerged from the final between Morocco and Senegal after details from the referee’s report revealed alleged interference by a top official during the match.
According to reports presented during a CAF hearing, match referee Jean Ndala stated that he intended to halt the game following an incident involving Senegalese players leaving the pitch.
In his statement, Ndala explained that his plan was to stop the match and issue a yellow card to each of the Senegalese players involved, in line with the laws of the game.
However, the situation reportedly took a dramatic turn when the president of the arbitration commission, Safari Kebene, allegedly intervened via headset communication.
Ndala claimed that Kebene instructed him to ignore the regulations and continue the match without taking the disciplinary action he had initially deemed necessary.
The revelation has sparked concerns over the integrity of officiating and the independence of referees in high-profile African football matches.
CAF is expected to further review the incident as part of its ongoing investigation, with potential disciplinary measures likely if the claims are substantiated.
