On video: did the officials favour Morocco? Mustapha Hadji responds to Kooora's question with a vague answer

Morocco legend dribbles past the question and leaves the door open to interpretation

Mustapha Hadji, the Morocco national team legend, gave an ambiguous response when Kooora asked him about accusations that the refereeing had favoured the Atlas Lions.

Hosts Morocco reached the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations against Senegal earlier this year. The identity of the continental champion remains unknown, pending the ruling of the Court of Arbitration for Sport "CAS" in the well-known case.

Those accusations of refereeing bias towards the hosts dogged the tournament. They boiled over in the final when Senegal's players objected to Congolese referee Jean Jacques Ndala awarding a penalty to the Atlas Lions in the closing minutes of normal time.

Senegal's players walked off the pitch in protest at the decision, sparking a crisis that still rumbles on today.

Pressed on the accusations, Hadji refused to be drawn. He simply pointed to Morocco's strength on the pitch and called for the continent's referees to raise their game.

The Morocco national team legend said, in a video interview with Kooora to be published later, "The Senegal national team is very, very strong, and we had wished to win the Africa Cup on the pitch, but before the final we played against strong teams as well, such as Nigeria, Mali and Cameroon, so the road to the final was difficult."

He added, "The Morocco national team was strong and overcame all its opponents on the pitch after producing a high level before the problem that occurred in the final."

Hadji concluded his remarks on this matter by saying, "I hope the African referees will be at a high level like the players. African teams and players cannot be at a wonderful level while refereeing on the continent is below the required standard."