Joseph-Antoine Bell criticises Senegal walk-off, believes AFCON 2025 final damage happened on the pitch

Former Cameroon international Joseph-Antoine Bell has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, delivering a strong and direct criticism of Senegal’s actions during the match.

Speaking in an interview with Le Parisien, Bell dismissed claims that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) caused the main damage by stripping Senegal of the title and awarding it to Morocco. Instead, he pointed to the conduct of the Senegalese bench during the game as the real turning point.

For Bell, the temporary walk-off by Senegal’s players in protest of a late penalty decision remains the key issue.

“What everyone is overlooking is the chaos that surrounded this match, caused by the Senegal coach’s decision to pull his players off the field,” he said.

Although the walk-off lasted only a few minutes, it was later judged to be a breach of competition regulations. While much of the public debate has focused on CAF’s ruling, Bell believes the integrity of the match had already been compromised before any official decision was made.

He did not completely absolve CAF, but he was firm in holding Senegal’s players and technical team responsible for their actions.

“Those involved in this final must be held accountable. Senegal’s players should be condemned for their lack of sportsmanship when they left the pitch. This is unacceptable. What a terrible example for young players.”

Bell’s comments highlight broader concerns about discipline and professionalism in African football. He suggested that the scenes during the final shifted attention away from the game itself and damaged the image of the sport on the continent.

Despite the widespread criticism directed at CAF, Bell expressed understanding toward the governing body’s handling of the situation.

“The decision-makers fulfilled their duty, and I understand the delay in its announcement. Reaching the right decision takes time, which is normal,” he noted.

With discussions ongoing about a possible appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Bell maintained that the process followed proper procedures.

“The decision was made in accordance with the regulations, aligned with the rules, and was communicated within a reasonable time frame consistent with procedures,” Bell added.

The fallout from the final continues to spark debate across African football, raising questions about governance, officiating, and sportsmanship. However, Bell’s intervention redirects attention to individual responsibility, insisting that the real damage was done during the match itself, long before any official verdict was delivered.