‘Not a Good Picture’ - McDonald Mariga and John Obi Mikel Slam Senegal Over AFCON Final Walk-Off

While debate continues over the decision by the CAF Appeal Board to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, McDonald Mariga and ex-Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel are critical of the events that led to the move.

In an unprecedented decision, the CAF Appeal Board on Tuesday ruled that Morocco had been awarded the AFCON title with a 3-0 win after Senegal were deemed to have forfeited the final when their players walked off the pitch for a number of minutes while protesting a penalty given to the Atlas Lions.

The CAF Appeal Board said Senegal had breached Article 84 of the CAF regulations and therefore lost their crown. The Senegalese had staged a walk-off in the final minutes of the final on January 18 when Morocco were awarded a penalty, shortly after their goal had been ruled out.

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They would return later onto the pitch, Brahim Diaz of Morocco missing the controversial penalty, before the game went to extra time where Senegal scored to win the final 1-0.

“I was in that final and it was not a good picture for African football when you tell players to come off the pitch,” Mariga said on the Obi One Podcast, which is co-hosted by Mikel.

“In this era, we have VAR and everything. The referee has to check a tackle or a challenge and you just go to VAR and say it is or not a penalty. With VAR, things are easy to decide and we have to move on, we have to play on and if we lose, next time. I think for Senegal to walk off was not good.”

Mikel also hit out at the Teranga Lions for walking off the pitch although he agrees that some of the rereferring decisions were questionable.

“I was covering the game and I understand their frustration and I don’t like the part when they walked off the pitch,” Mikel weighed in.

“I do not think you do that. I understand your frustration. Them [Senegal] scoring the goal that I think was a goal and then the referee going the other end and awarding a penalty against Senegal.

“I understand your frustration but you should not walk off the pitch,” he added.

With the podcast having been recorded before the CAF ruling, it is not certain what both Mariga and Mikel make of the move, but their sentiments will generate further debate given there are some who feel Senegal were within their rights to protest the refereeing decision.