A Legacy of Controversy: Benatia Reflects on the 2025 AFCON Final
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, which saw Morocco and Senegal face off in a high-stakes encounter, continues to dominate headlines long after the final whistle. Former Atlas Lions captain and legendary defender Mehdi Benatia has broken his silence on the match, expressing deep frustration over the officiating and the administrative management of an event that should have been a celebration of African football.
In a candid interview with Bertrand Latour for Canal+, Benatia did not mince words regarding the chaotic scenes that unfolded on the pitch. The match, which initially saw Senegal emerge victorious 1-0 after extra time, was marred by a significant interruption when the Senegalese squad temporarily walked off the pitch to protest officiating decisions. For Benatia, this moment was a watershed failure for the match officials and the tournament organizers.
The Rulebook vs. Reality: A Failure of Governance
Benatia, who enjoyed a prestigious career at clubs like Bayern Munich and Juventus, argued that the incident should have been handled with strict adherence to the laws of the game. He pointed out that, under standard football regulations, a team walking off the field and failing to maintain the required number of players should essentially constitute an abandonment of the match.
"If you look at the rulebook, it says that if you leave the pitch and don't have enough players on the field, it's an abandonment," Benatia stated. He placed the burden of responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the referee and the match delegates, who allowed the game to resume rather than enforcing the protocols that would have led to a different outcome. By permitting the Senegalese team to return and finish the match, the officials created a legal and ethical quagmire that now sits before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The Bitter Taste of a Legal Victory
While the Confederation of African Football (CAF) eventually awarded the match to Morocco as a forfeit, leading to the Atlas Lions being declared champions, Benatia remains skeptical of the emotional value of such a title. He lamented that the ongoing legal battle with the Senegalese Football Federation, which has taken the case to the CAS, has stripped the victory of its natural joy.
"It will never have the same flavor, in any case," Benatia remarked, emphasizing that true footballing glory should be decided on the pitch by the players, not in courtrooms. As the football world awaits the final verdict from the CAS, expected by the end of November, Benatia’s comments serve as a sobering reminder of the need for better governance and consistency in one of the world's most passionate footballing continents.
As reported by fr.hespress.com.
