Rabat – The debate around the AFCON 2025 final continues to draw strong reactions, and Burkinabe sports analyst Issoufou Diem is among the latest voices to weigh in.
Speaking during a television appearance with BF1, Diem did not hold back in his assessment of Senegal’s decision to leave the pitch during the final in Rabat, which later led CAF to award Morocco a 3-0 win by forfeit, relying on articles 82 and 84.
“Senegal was not right,” Diem said. “Leaving the field and protesting like that, at some point, we have to admit something, right? This had to end one day.”
He suggested that this was not an isolated incident. For him, similar behavior has appeared in Senegal’s football history.
Issoufou DEM (analyste sportif) :
« Il fallait que cela prenne fin un jour. Le Sénégal est habitué à 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗥𝗘 les matchs.
Rappelez-vous de la CAN 2000 au Nigeria, le Sénégal est sorti du terrain avec leur capitaine qui demandait à ses coéquipiers de… pic.twitter.com/dPdADarbkY
— FRMF Xtra (@FRMFXtra) March 21, 2026
“Senegal is used to this kind of behavior,” he added. “Remember the Africa Cup of Nations in 2000 in Nigeria, when Senegal left the pitch. Or think about their captain, Papa Malick Diop, who was asking his teammates to walk off.”
Diem also addressed the argument made by some supporters that the final result should have been left untouched after the match ended.
“I hear people saying the game was finished, the result was confirmed, and that’s it,” he said. “But things are more complicated than that.”
He referred to a past case involving South Africa and Senegal.
“The qualifier between Senegal and South Africa in 2013, South Africa won 2-1, but the match was replayed,” he said. “So Senegal will need stronger arguments, because this one does not hold.”
His comments come at a time when Senegal is preparing to challenge CAF’s decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
For Diem, however, the key issue is not just legal. It is also about consistency in behavior and accountability on the pitch.
Read also: Claude Le Roy Clarifies Comments on AFCON Decision, Says Morocco ‘Deserved Title’
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