Avant le verdict du TAS : Mustapha Hadji prend position et charge l’arbitre Ndala
While Senegal and Morocco are still awaiting the Court of Arbitration for Sport's (CAS) verdict regarding the outcome of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, the controversy is far from over. Former Moroccan international Mustapha Hadji has revisited the events in Rabat and specifically points to the responsibility of Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala, whom he accuses of having made a mistake by allowing the match to resume.
In an interview with the Arabic media outlet Kooora, the 1998 African Footballer of the Year clearly sided with the Atlas Lions. In his view, the temporary withdrawal of the Senegalese players during the final should have resulted in a regulatory sanction, thus paving the way for a Moroccan victory by default.
Read also: "Senegal-Morocco case: The CAS will deliver its verdict at the end of November"
“Morocco committed no wrongdoing, while the Senegalese players left the field. Therefore, the law states that Morocco has the right to reclaim the Africa Cup of Nations,” he declared. The former Moroccan attacking midfielder was adamant about the legitimacy of the victory awarded to his country: “We didn’t steal the Cup. We won it according to the regulations and the events that unfolded on the pitch.”
Jean-Jacques Ndala in the sights of the former Moroccan international
Beyond his stance on the application of the rules, Mustapha Hadji directly criticizes Jean-Jacques Ndala, the referee of the final played on January 18 in Rabat. He accuses him of allowing the match to resume after the Senegalese players had temporarily left the field following the penalty awarded to Morocco in stoppage time.
“The referee made a serious error when he decided to continue the match after the Senegalese players left the field,” he argued. Hadji also questioned the role of the assistant referees, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), and the officials of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), believing that the decision to continue the match should have been subject to stricter oversight.
The former international player goes further, stating that the Senegalese are aware of the regulations applicable to this situation. According to him, resuming the match primarily prevented an escalation of tensions and more serious incidents.
This stance comes amid ongoing tensions between the two countries. On the pitch, Senegal won the final 1-0 after extra time. However, the CAF appeals committee subsequently awarded the Lions of Teranga a forfeit, changing the result to a 3-0 victory for Morocco.
Senegal is contesting this decision, defending the validity of the result obtained at the end of the match. For the Senegalese sports authorities, the fact that the match was restarted and then completed is a central element in challenging the sanction.
The case thus hinges on one essential question: did the temporary withdrawal of the Senegalese players justify a forfeit defeat, despite the resumption and conclusion of the final? The dispute crystallizes particularly around the interpretation of the regulations and the principle of the autonomy of decisions made on the field.
While awaiting the Court of Arbitration for Sport's (CAS) decision, expected in November, Mustapha Hadji's statements illustrate the depth of the disagreement between the two sides. The verdict of the Lausanne-based sports tribunal will be crucial in ending this legal battle and definitively determining the fate of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations trophy.
Commentaires (48)
Il faut consommer la défaite. Ce jour là, le Sénégal était supérieur au Maroc.
et le but refusé par l'arbitre sciemment en sifflant une faute pour empêcher la VAR de visionner l'action
et les serviettes de Mendy encouragés par les joueurs de l'équipe du Maroc
et les fautes non tirées etc..............
Le Maroc voulait gagner coute que coute avec la complicité de la CAF et de la FIFA
La meilleure équipe a gagné,
maintenant foutez nous la paix.
Il n'a pas gagné la CAN quand il jouait mais il attend de devenir un retraité pour tenter de la voler.
Hadji, tu n'es rien aux yeux des Sénégalais.
Cette coupe est et demeurera sénégalaise.
Vos sorties sont confuses, incompréhensibles, et jamais fondé sur le droit. Vous amoncelez des choses juste pour mentir et manipuler.
From Algiers.
Il faut consommer la défaite. Ce jour là, le Sénégal était supérieur au Maroc.
Si l'arbitre commet des fautes,le Sénégal doit il forcément payer pour lui?
L'arbitre est un humain. Avec tout ce qu'il fait contre le Sénégal lors de ce match,sa conscience lui laisse t il une poche pour siffler la fin de la partie dans ces conditions?C'est évident que si le Maroc menait au score en ce moment, il n'aurait pas hésité à mettre fin au match,car c'était son contrat de faire gagner le Maroc oar a ou b(un but refusé, un penalty accordé après un hors jeu flagrant, des serviettes volées en cours de jeu?,),c'était trop pour siffler la fin de la partie dans ces conditions.
S’il l’avait fait, peut-être qu’on n’en serait pas là aujourd’hui.
Dëgg rek mooy mùjj
Le Senegal a honte de gagner sur le tapis vert, nous sommes des lions, nous gagnons sur le terrain Yes !
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