Former FIFA-accredited referee Victor Hlungwani has reviewed two key calls by Jean Jacques Ndala in the AFCON 2025 final.
The Congolese ref handled the tense final between Morocco and Senegal on Sunday at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat.
The Lions of Teranga had a goal disallowed after the referee adjudged a foul by substitute Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi in the box. Moments later, the hosts were awarded a penalty, prompting Senegal to walk off the pitch. Hlungwani, speaking on SABC, explained why Ndala was correct on both calls.
WHY NDALA WAS CORRECT ON THE HAKIMI-SECK INCIDENT?
“Under Law 5: Powers and Duties, we’ll go to Disciplinary Action. It says, [the referee] “punishes the most serious offence in terms of sanction, restart, physical severity…” said Hlongwane.
“When more than one offence occurs at the same time, the guidance we receive as referees is that the referee must punish the most serious offence. So now, in this case, the most serious offence is the goal scored. Now, when we go to Law Number 10. It says, ‘provided the team scoring the goal has not committed any offence’.
“So, the team that scored a goal has committed an offence. So now that’s where the impact comes in to say, the one that scored the goals is the one that has more impact than the one who’s defending.”
He admitted both players committed offences but stated that “the one that is more is a goal is scored.”
AFCON FINAL PENALTY CALL CORRECT
Brahim Diaz is pulled down in the box towards the end of the game, and the referee points to the spot. This is the moment the Lions of Teranga walk off the pitch.
“We see Diouf [Malick] there holding Diaz and pulling him down. So, clearly, here, I don’t understand why Senegal wants to leave the field of play for this offence, because this is a clear holding. A penalty should have been awarded, and one was. Correct decision by Jean-Jacques Ndala to award the penalty.”
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