AFCON Final: Samir Sobha, President of the Mauritian Football Federation and CAF Executive Committee Member, Acknowledges Refereeing Error and Apologizes to Morocco
In an interview with The Guardian, Samir Sobha, President of the Mauritian Football Federation and a member of the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), addressed the controversies surrounding the final between Morocco and Senegal. He stated that the match was not handled in accordance with regulations and argued that the Moroccan national team was treated unfairly.
His remarks come amid an already tense climate within the continental body, shaken by several sensitive issues: a disputed final, the temporary walk-off by Senegalese players, sanctions deemed insufficient by critics, and ongoing questions surrounding Secretary General Véron Mosengo-Omba. Added to this are comments attributed to refereeing official Olivier Safari Kabene, who reportedly mentioned instructions aimed at preventing the interruption of the match.
In the interview, Sobha adopted a notably direct tone. He expressed regret that disciplinary rules were not enforced when Senegalese players left the pitch, asserting that such a situation should have resulted in immediate sanctions. He also addressed an explicit message to the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, apologizing for what he described as a breach of sporting fairness and respect toward the Moroccan team.
According to Sobha, even if the sporting outcome cannot now be altered, the African governing body should officially acknowledge its mistakes in order to preserve its credibility. He stressed that CAF must admit its shortcomings and prioritize transparency over institutional silence.
His statement has reignited debate over the governance of continental football and the consistency of decisions taken at the highest levels. It has also revived questions about the role of international bodies such as FIFA, which some observers believe should closely monitor the handling of the matter.
Editorial team/le7tv
