Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations 2025 campaign ended dramatically and controversially as their players appeared to confront referee Pierre Atcho following a 1-0 semi-final defeat to Senegal in Tangier.
The Pharaohs, eliminated by a late strike from Sadio Mané, reacted furiously at the final whistle, surrounding the Gabonese official and his assistants in protest.
Television footage captured several Egyptian players making heated gestures toward the referee, with some flashing their hands in a manner widely interpreted as implying that the officiating crew had been “paid off” to favour Senegal.
The images quickly went viral, sparking outrage among fans and igniting debate about the integrity of officiating at AFCON 2025.
The match itself had been a tense affair, with Senegal dominating possession but struggling to break down Egypt’s defensive block until Mané’s decisive goal in the closing stages.
Pharaohs’frustration boils over
Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, registered only one shot on target and looked increasingly frustrated as decisions went against them. Their anger boiled over after the final whistle, with players chasing the officials off the pitch and staff members attempting to restrain them.
Reports from Moroccan outlet El-Botola suggested that members of the Egyptian squad accused Atcho and his team of bias, claiming that key fouls and challenges were consistently judged in Senegal’s favour.
While the Egyptian Football Association has yet to lodge an official complaint, the incident has drawn sharp criticism from observers who argue that such behaviour undermines the spirit of the competition.
CAF is expected to review the footage and may consider disciplinary action against Egypt’s players for unsporting conduct. At the same time, the controversy has reignited calls for greater transparency and consistency in refereeing.
For Egypt, the semi-final defeat marks another painful chapter in their AFCON history, while Senegal marches on to the final.
