Former Cameroonian goalkeeper Joseph-Antoine Bell has voiced a critical perspective on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, which continues to spark controversy. In an interview with the French newspaper Le Parisien, Bell argued that the behaviors of Senegal and Morocco during the final tarnished the image of African football.
Bell specifically pointed to the Senegalese coach's decision to have his players leave the field, calling it "unprecedented" and a bad example for young footballers. He also criticized Morocco, believing that the federation lacked "sportsmanship" by contesting the result after initially agreeing to resume the match and after their defeat in the penalty shootout.
According to Bell, the public debate focuses too much on the CAF Appeals Jury's decision and its timing, overshadowing the behavioral problems of the teams. He defended the governing body, arguing that justice needs time to make a "good decision" and that the sentence was handed down in accordance with the regulations.
"It is the actors of this final who must be put on trial," Bell said, insisting that African football was "tarnished" by the actions on and around the field, and not by the resulting legal decision. He called for refocusing the debate on the values of sport, regretting that the controversy is crystallizing on CAF rather than on fair play and sportsmanship.
Bell also defended the referee of the match, Jean Jacques Ndala, against the criticism he faced, believing that he had applied the rules without being influenced by the pressure. He specifically justified the use of video assistance (VAR) to award a penalty to Morocco, a decision that had angered the Senegalese. For Bell, the referee was the "man of the match" because he was able to manage the tension and emotions. The former goalkeeper insisted that players must accept the authority of the referee, even in case of disagreement.
