Keïta Baldé has offered a candid and measured reflection on the controversial end to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, acknowledging that while he does not fully agree with Senegal’s decision to leave the pitch, he understands the emotions that led to it.
Speaking in an interview with Post United, the Senegal international addressed the dramatic scenes that overshadowed the final against Morocco on 18 January, a match marked by disputed refereeing decisions and Senegal’s brief withdrawal from the field.
The 30-year-old forward, who plays for AC Monza, stopped short of condemning those involved but expressed clear frustration at how the decisive moments unfolded.
Baldé focused in particular on the two key incidents during stoppage time: the disallowed Senegalese goal and the penalty awarded to Morocco. In his view, neither decision was justified.
Reflecting on the overturned goal, he said the contact between Krépin Diatta Seck and Achraf Hakimi was minimal and did not merit a foul.
He also questioned the logic behind the penalty given to Morocco moments later, describing the contact as routine and unavoidable in a crowded penalty area.
“[Regarding the disallowed goal for Senegal] As a footballer, the contact (between Seck and Hakimi) was too slight to warrant a foul. It wasn’t a foul, nor a blatant push. It was a slight contact in the penalty area that deserved to be reviewed. But now, the referees are creating confusion… It was a legal goal. The contact that led to a penalty for Morocco wasn’t aggressive contact, nor a foul justifying a penalty. It was innocuous contact. You’re in the penalty area, there’s always some contact, a slight shirt pull. It’s normal, it’s a set piece. If we apply this kind of rule, we’d need at least ten penalties per match.”
The former Lazio, Monaco and Inter Milan player also addressed the most striking image of the night: Senegal’s temporary withdrawal from the pitch following the penalty decision.
While Baldé admitted he would personally have supported returning to play, as Sadio Mané urged at the time, he refused to criticise head coach Pape Thiaw for his reaction.
“They are playing with the emotions of an entire country that is witnessing an injustice,” Baldé said, underlining the pressure faced by those directly involved.
He explained how repeated replays seen from the bench, combined with the emotional weight of a continental final, made calm decision-making almost impossible.
“It’s like banging your fist on the table, saying, ‘No, this can’t happen to us.’ There’s incredible tension, palpable tension… Naturally, you lose your head. But from the outside, you have the clarity to think, ‘My God, why did they do that? Why did they leave the pitch?’… And no, I don’t exactly share it in that way, but I also understand the gesture.”
Baldé’s comments reflect a wider debate that continues to surround the final, capturing both the sense of injustice felt by Senegal and the complexity of reacting under extreme pressure on African football’s biggest stage.
