Afconned? Red card for refs at Africa's showpiece

The Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) unfolded in a climate of suspicion that referees were favouring host nation Morocco, which reached a climax as the Jan 18 final tipped into chaos after several contentious decisions.

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Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was one of five Senegal players cautioned in the Afcon final against Morocco by DR Congo referee Jean-Jacques Ndala, whose decisions were heavily criticised as favouring the hosts. PHOTO: EPA

(EPA)

The most striking image of this Afcon will remain the Senegal players leaving the pitch after Morocco were awarded a penalty at the very end of the second half. That came shortly after referee Jean-Jacques Ndala of the Democratic Republic of Congo had disallowed a goal for Senegal.

The Senegalese reaction was a sign of the prevailing mistrust shown to match officials over the three weeks of the competition.

Criticism of the refereeing is particularly marked at Afcons, but never before had the grievances taken on such proportions, to the point of spoiling the final in Rabat and tarnishing the image of a tournament whose organisation had until then been widely praised.