Comments from Edouard Mendy just threw more fuel on the fire regarding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Final (AFCON), with the Senegal goalkeeper offering a version of events that clashes with established interpretations of the laws of the game.
In a recent interview, Mendy dismissed that Senegal abandoned the match, stating: “People say everybody left the pitch, but it’s not true because there were still players. That’s why the referee did not whistle the end of the game.”
He added, “It was like the game stopping for a moment but it restarted.” He claimed there is “no need” to revisit the incident since the match was ultimately completed.
Mendy’s position has raised eyebrows, given the clarity of football regulations.
Under the International Football Association Board, players are not allowed to leave the field of play without the referee’s authorization. The laws also require a minimum of seven players on the pitch for a match to continue.
Official reports from the final indicate that Senegal players left the field “collectively” following a penalty awarded to Morocco during the chaotic AFCON final on January 18.
Senegal’s walk-off is a huge element in the subsequent ruling.
🗣️ « Les gens disaient qu’on avait tous quitté le terrain lors de la finale mais c’est faux. Il y avait encore des joueurs sur le terrain. »
Édouard Mendy 🇸🇳 revient sur la décision prise par la CAF et explique son point de vue.
(YouTube @TheMoShowPod) https://t.co/CL3mLK1d4j pic.twitter.com/5VhWePEqbW
— SPL 🇸🇦 (@ActuSPL) April 11, 2026
CAF decision grounded in regulations
CAF ruled that Senegal’s actions constituted a breach of the rules, awarding the title to Morocco despite the match being played to completion after the interruption.
From a regulatory standpoint, the principle remains straightforward: leaving the field of play has consequences, regardless of whether play later resumes.
Mendy’s comments show the divide between interpretation and regulation.
While the Senegal camp argues the match was merely interrupted, the governing bodies have applied a stricter reading of the laws. The case is now in the hands of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Read also: 2025 AFCON Final: The Truth About Senegal’s Walk-Off, Logistics Claims, and a Decisive Rulebook
