Player scout Timothy Kaija has urged for a measured and rule-based assessment of the events surrounding the controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final, emphasising the importance of context, timing, and adherence to football regulations.
Speaking to Canary Mugume during Next Big Talk hosted by Next Radio on Friday, Kaija addressed the circumstances under which Senegalese players and officials temporarily left the pitch during the final against Morocco.
“There is walking off the pitch, but what is sensitive is the amount of time you spend off the pitch, because what they did was unprecedented,” he said.
Kaija highlighted the need for a detailed review of the sequence of events, noting that the departures were not simultaneous.
“We need to go back and see how long the Senegalese actually spent off the pitch, because they didn’t all walk off at once. If I remember correctly, those who walked off first were the substitutes on the bench. The rules state that a team must have at least seven players to be considered complete,” he said.
Kaija also commented on the strong reactions that followed the incident, particularly from Senegalese supporters and observers across West Africa. He described these responses as emotional and reflective of the intensity of the moment.
“The initial reaction from the Senegalese fans and many people from West Africa, I would describe as being in the heat of the moment and emotional. I am sure that when tempers cool down, they will be advised, because some of the comments about pulling Senegal out of CAF competitions are purely emotional,” he said.
Reflecting on historical precedent, Kaija pointed to a similar incident in the 1970’s involving Morocco.
“If you go back to the decision to abandon the match, there was a similar incident in 1976, and that was the last time Morocco won the trophy. They themselves walked off the pitch when they were facing Guinea,” he said.
Kaija’s remarks come amid a growing storm surrounding the final, which originally saw Senegal defeat Morocco 1–0 after extra time in a tense encounter held in Rabat on January 18, 2026.
The match was disrupted late in the game following a disputed penalty, with Senegal’s technical bench briefly halting play and some supporters attempting to invade the pitch.
Earlier this week, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Board stripped Senegal of the AFCON title, declaring the team forfeited the final and awarding a 3–0 victory to Morocco.
The decision overturned the original result following a complaint by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), which argued that Morocco’s right to be heard had not been respected in the initial disciplinary proceedings.
The Appeals Board ruled that Senegal’s conduct violated Articles 82 and 84 of AFCON regulations, resulting in a 3–0 forfeit victory for Morocco and adjustments to various disciplinary sanctions for both teams.
In response, officials from the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) have strongly condemned the ruling, describing it as “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable.”
The federation has confirmed plans to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, seeking to defend the original outcome and safeguard the interests of Senegalese football.
