The African Cup of Nations (AFCON-2023) has found itself mired in controversy as allegations of questionable refereeing decisions continue to plague the tournament. The latest victim of what some perceive as a skewed arbitration system is Senegal, echoing earlier complaints from Algeria and Tunisia.
In the spotlight is Gabonese referee Pierre Ghislain Atcho, who notably served as the VAR referee during Algeria’s initial two matches against Angola and Burkina Faso.
Despite contentious incidents, Atcho refrained from intervening in favor of the Greens, sparking concerns about impartiality.
The glaring penalty incident involving a handball against Angola and two disputed actions inside the penalty area during the Burkina Faso clash left a lingering sense of injustice.
However, it was Atcho’s role as the referee-director in the Senegal-Ivory Coast match that became a focal point of controversy.
The outcome of the game, which ended in frustration for Senegal, led to heated protests from Senegalese players.
Right-back Krépin Diatta went so far as to voice accusations of corruption against Atcho, vehemently expressing, “You are corrupt. Keep your AFCON,” in the mixed zone post-match.
Senegal’s grievances center around Atcho’s alleged failure to consult video replays on incidents requiring his intervention, further intensifying claims of biased officiating.
The players, disillusioned with the refereeing decisions, went on to declare that the officials had “killed the competition.”
A missed intervention on a potentially game-changing action involving Sadio Mané’s challenge on Ibrahim Sangaré added to the controversy.
While the tournament has progressed without organizational hitches, the integrity of the refereeing decisions has come under scrutiny, posing a significant challenge to the credibility of AFCON-2023.
The cloud of controversy looms over the competition as it heads into the final stages, raising questions about the fairness and transparency of the arbitration system in African football.
