ET L’ARBITRE SUPREME RENDIT SA SENTENCE (par François Mame Samba NDIAYE)
Some matches transcend the simple realm of sport, becoming parables in their own right. The final between Morocco and Senegal didn't just crown a winner. It laid bare the eternal struggle between the nobility of the game and the temptations of cheating, between sportsmanship and the artifice of cunning. On the pitch of the Rabat Stadium, more than just players, it was values that clashed.
Football, in its purest form, is a popular ritual. It obeys simple, universal rules, accepted by all. It demands effort, sacrifice, integrity, patience, and humility. But when the stakes become immense, when glory draws near and history beckons, some are tempted to force the hand of destiny, to influence the course of the game through maneuvers that betray the spirit of this sport.
This final was marked by a rare intensity, an almost explosive tension. Senegal, true to its DNA, played authentic football: total commitment, respect for the game and the opponent. Every duel carried the weight of a nation, every run told the story of collective sacrifice. Morocco, for its part, displayed talent and tactical intelligence, but not without sparking debate and controversy, as certain attitudes, whether overt or subtle, seemed to flirt with the limits of what is acceptable.
Indeed, cheating in sports is not limited to blatant fouls. It sometimes takes the form of skillfully executed simulations, pressure on the referee, systematic time-wasting, and the manipulation of the rules to the detriment of the game. These practices, although tolerated by some as part of the "profession," always leave a mark. They challenge the collective conscience and tarnish the beauty of the spectacle.
However, football possesses an almost mystical quality. In many respects, it eludes absolute human control. One can calculate, maneuver, influence, but an irreducible element of unpredictability remains. It is here that the Divine intervenes, not in a strictly religious sense, but as a metaphor for a higher, immanent justice that ultimately restores balance.
"GOD, the Almighty Master, decides." This pronouncement resonates particularly strongly in this final. It reminds us that despite the schemes, despite the injustices, perceived or real, GOD's verdict remains supreme. A goal scored with the "hand"—oh, what am I saying?—a disallowed header, a player deliberately collapsing on the pitch, a dubious penalty awarded, then taken and missed. All these signs reveal that the game on the field, in its own way, transcends human calculation.
The Senegalese team, through its demeanor, reflected in the exemplary conduct of "Nanthio" (Sadio Mané), embodied this quiet faith in the integrity of the game. A faith that doesn't deny adversity, far from it, but refuses to be defeated by it. A faith that accepts that victory, when it comes, is the fruit of merit and that defeat, if it occurs, is borne with dignity. It is this attitude that elevates a team to the status of a moral benchmark, beyond trophies.
In reality, this final teaches us an essential lesson: sport is never neutral. It reflects our societies, our temptations, our strengths, and our weaknesses. It reminds us that winning without honor is an empty victory, while losing with sportsmanship can sow the seeds of lasting recognition.
When fair play clashes with cheating, time always delivers its verdict. The shouts fade, the controversies dissipate, but collective memory retains the essential: who respected the game, and who tried to circumvent it. And in this invisible tribunal that is the history of sport, there is neither lawyer nor appeal. God alone, the Absolute Master, decides. And often, silently. He renders justice to the game. For such is His will. "Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra."
LONG LIVE THE LIONS. LONG LIVE SENEGAL.
François Mame Samba NDIAYE, Lawyer, Consultant, Expert in mediation, arbitration and conciliation.
Commentaires (7)
Quel plaisir de savoir que par la grâce de Dieu , tu es devenu un juriste.
Madame Fevotte , professeur de françois disait François ect, ect.......Ndiaye
Merci Mr Ndiaye
Merci pour cette analyse froide et sans complaisance mon cher, et VIVE LE SÉNÉGAL, LES SÉNÉGALAIS ET L'ÉQUIPE CHAMPIONNE D'AFRIQUE !!
Participer à la Discussion
Règles de la communauté :
💡 Astuce : Utilisez des emojis depuis votre téléphone ou le module emoji ci-dessous. Cliquez sur GIF pour ajouter un GIF animé. Collez un lien X/Twitter ou TikTok pour l'afficher automatiquement.