Former Cameroonian goalkeeper Joseph Antoine Bell has strongly criticized the behavior of the participants in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final between Senegal and Morocco. In his view, the real problem lies not so much in the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) decision to strip Senegal of the title, but rather in the lack of sportsmanship displayed during the match.
Bell specifically pointed to the Senegalese players' decision to temporarily leave the field in protest of a refereeing decision. He considers this act to be disrespectful to the referee and contrary to the spirit of sportsmanship. "It's the lack of respect towards the referee. It's the lack of sportsmanship from a team that didn't accept a whistle! That's the truth! It's a constant fact!" he stated.
The former Cameroonian international also emphasized that protests and challenges to refereeing decisions should be made in accordance with established rules and procedures. He recalled that the regulations allow teams to file complaints and that the outcome of a match can be changed if necessary. However, he insisted that the decisions made on the field by the referee must be respected and that teams must show fair play in all circumstances.
"For me, the referee is someone you don't touch," Bell stated, insisting on the need to help referees be independent. He recalled that the referee is the only actor on the field who has no supporters, and that it is therefore essential to support him and help him make the best possible decisions.
In conclusion, Joseph Antoine Bell felt that the conduct of the 2025 AFCON final was marked by a lack of sportsmanship on the part of both the Senegalese and Moroccan teams. He called for greater respect for the rules, the referee, and the spirit of sportsmanship in order to preserve the integrity of African football. Senegal has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
