Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-01-31 03:37:00
Senegalese football star Krepin Diatta has accused the Confederation of African Football (CAF) of corruption, claiming that the African football ruling body favored Cote d’Ivoire in their defeat of Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The AS Monaco of France star expressed his frustration by shouting at CAF officials after the game, accusing them of corruption and telling them to keep their African Cup.
In the game, Cote d’Ivoire defeated the overwhelming favorites Senegal in a penalty shoot-out after regular time and additional time had ended 1-1.
Senegal had taken the lead through an early goal by Habib Diallo before Franck Kessié levelled from the penalty spot late on. The hosts went on to win the ensuing penalty shoot-out 5-4.
However, the game took a turn when VAR called the referee’s attention to a blatant foul on Cote d’Ivoire’s Pepe inside the Senegalese box, which the official had initially ignored.
The resulting penalty allowed Cote d’Ivoire to draw level, and Senegal was unable to regain their advantage. Diatta was particularly upset by the refereeing decisions, expressing frustration over the failure to award a penalty for what he deemed to be a foul by Odilon Kossounou on Ismaïla Sarr.
He criticized the inconsistency in the use of VAR, stating that while a penalty was awarded after VAR consultation for Cote d’Ivoire, a similar opportunity was not given for Senegal.
In a post-game outburst at the mixed zone, Diatta directed his comments towards journalists and members of CAF’s media service, accusing them of ruining the competition.
His impassioned speech reflected deep disappointment and frustration with the perceived injustices that affected the outcome of the match.
Diatta’s emotional reaction captured the intense emotions and controversies that often surround high-stakes football competitions, shedding light on the complexities of officiating and the consequences of controversial decisions in the sport.
