Rabat – South Africa coach Hugo Broos has criticized CAF’s handling of the AFCON 2025 decision, raising concerns about how the situation was managed rather than the rule itself.
His comments come after CAF’s Appeal Board awarded the title to Morocco on March 17, two months after the final, following Senegal’s walk-off during the match in Rabat.
Bafana coach Hugo Broos on the return of Themba Zwane to the team.
WATCH press conference ➡️➡️➡️https://t.co/esVhLof0Fk pic.twitter.com/2C6QRkWqaX
— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) March 19, 2026
The decision was based on Articles 82 and 84, which state that leaving the pitch leads to a forfeit.
Speaking in an interview with Mahlatse Mphahlele, Broos said he understands the rule and does not dispute it. From his point of view, Senegal’s action clearly falls under that regulation. But his main issue is the timing of the decision.
“If you leave the pitch, it’s a forfeit. That part is clear,” Broos said. “But why wait two months to decide?”
He described CAF’s approach as inconsistent, arguing that decisions like this should be taken immediately, especially in a final. For him, the delay created unnecessary confusion and made the situation harder for everyone involved, especially the players.
Broos also linked this case to his experience with CAF. He referred to a previous situation involving South Africa midfielder Teboho Mokoena, where a disciplinary decision reportedly took several months, even though the issue itself was straightforward.
In his view, that case and the AFCON ruling show the same pattern: slow decisions on matters that should be resolved quickly.
While he expressed sympathy for Senegal, Broos did not challenge the outcome itself. Instead, he focused on how the process was handled. For him, the problem is not the rule, but the delay in applying it.
