John Obi Mikel has delivered a blunt assessment of the refereeing during the Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco, describing key decisions as poorly handled and insisting that a crucial Senegalese goal should have stood.
The former Nigeria captain was reacting to the controversial moments that shaped the closing stages of the 2025 AFCON final, overseen by Congolese referee Jean Jacques Ndala.
Senegal went on to lift the trophy, but the match was overshadowed by disputed calls that triggered strong reactions from players, supporters and football figures across the continent.
Mikel, who won the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria in 2013, placed particular emphasis on the decision to disallow a goal scored by Senegal’s Ismaïla Sarr. In his view, the referee failed to apply consistency and composure at decisive moments of the game, contributing to the tension that followed.
Speaking on Channel 4 Sport, the former Chelsea midfielder made his position clear, questioning both the timing and the process behind the referee’s decisions.
“I don’t agree with the disallowed goal of Sarr. For me, it was a valid goal because Hakimi went down too easily. And even if the referee considered the goal invalid, why did he blow his whistle so early? He should have waited a bit to analyze the situation and perhaps consult VAR. He didn’t,” Mikel said.
He went on to contrast that incident with the penalty later awarded to Morocco, highlighting what he viewed as unequal treatment of similar situations.
“On the other hand, when he awarded the penalty to Morocco, he went to VAR very quickly. The way the referee handled the situation was terrible.
Disallowing a goal for Senegal and then awarding a penalty to Morocco two minutes later was terrible,” he added.
Mikel’s comments reflect a broader debate that has followed the final, with many observers analysing the referee’s use of VAR and his overall control of the match.
While Senegal ultimately emerged as champions of Africa, the decisions in question intensified emotions on and off the pitch, contributing to chaotic scenes at the end of the game.
The AFCON final, the climax of the tournament’s 35th edition, was expected to be remembered primarily for Senegal’s success.
Instead, the officiating has remained a dominant talking point in the days since the match, with former players like Mikel lending their voices to calls for greater consistency and clearer application of technology in high-stakes encounters.
As African football continues to grow on the global stage, scrutiny of refereeing standards is unlikely to fade, particularly when finals of major tournaments are decided amid controversy.
