Chiefs Coach: AFCON Final Was Shameful

Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze has criticised Senegal for temporarily walking off the pitch during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against Morocco in Rabat on Sunday, saying some nations feel entitled to win matches at all costs.

Kaze said the incident that led to the stoppage-time penalty was a clear decision, after El Hadji Malick Diouf grabbed Brahim Díaz around the neck in the 98th minute. Referee Jean Jacques Ndala, following a VAR review, subsequently awarded Morocco a penalty.

Senegal reacted angrily to the decision, with head coach Pape Thiaw instructing his players to leave the field in what Kaze described as a bizarre and shameful moment in an AFCON final.

Former Liverpool forward Sadio Mané, however, remained on the pitch and played a crucial role in persuading his team-mates to return, as some had already made their way to the dressing room.

After a delay of approximately 17 minutes, Díaz took the penalty, but his attempted Panenka was brilliantly saved by Édouard Mendy, keeping Senegal in the contest.

Senegal eventually went on to win the match when Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal in the fourth minute of extra time, securing a second AFCON title in five years for the Lions of Teranga.

“There are some teams from certain parts of Africa that think they are entitled to win in any way,” Kaze said.

“When things don’t go their way, they try everything to influence the outcome, sometimes in ways that are not honest.

“I’ll give you an example from our game against Zamalek. We conceded early, and for the rest of the match players kept going down, sitting whenever the ball went out. That’s the mentality — when you do it to them, they complain.”

Reflecting on the AFCON final, Kaze acknowledged the overall quality of the tournament but condemned the walk-off incident.

“If I look at the game on Sunday, the spectacle we’ve seen throughout this AFCON has been tremendously entertaining. The level has been very high, and most things have been positive,” he said.

“But what we saw on Sunday was shameful for African football. I don’t always agree with referees, but to walk off the field — that is not good.”

The penalty was awarded shortly after Senegal had scored, with Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi left on the ground in the build-up to the goal, but it was chalked off — a sequence that further angered the Senegal camp, who had already raised concerns about their treatment before the final.

“Walking off the field sets a precedent that we should all condemn and never allow as a form of protest,” Kaze added.

“Personally, I believe the penalty was the correct decision. He grabbed him, and it was a penalty. They can debate the earlier incident and the disallowed goal — that’s a different discussion — but the penalty itself was the right call.”

Kaze was speaking ahead of Kaizer Chiefs’ Betway Premiership match against Golden Arrows at FNB Stadium on Tuesday, as domestic football resumes following the AFCON.