Strong Lineups or the Distribution of Yellow Cards? Challenges of CAF Regulations in the Africa Cup of Nations
The leadership of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) must pause to evaluate its rules regarding the distribution of yellow cards in knockout matches, following the cancellation of all yellow cards recorded during the group stages.
During the semi-finals, 20 players faced a strict regulation imposed by current rules, fearing that a second caution within three consecutive matches could deprive them of qualifying for the final.
This rule resulted in the absence of Senegal’s captain Kalidou Koulibaly and one of his midfielders, Habib Diarra, from the final. A similar fate awaited Nigeria defender Calvin Bassey and Egypt’s Hossam Abdelmaguid, had their teams excelled in the semi-finals.
While discipline remains a fundamental factor, coaches, players, journalists, and fans expect major matches to feature the best possible lineups on the pitch.
On the other hand, the Africa Cup of Nations saw teams with identical achievements in the group stages, placing CAF in a position that might require settlement via a drawing of lots. This current tournament came close to resorting to a draw three times.
The last time a draw was used to determine African representation in the Confederation finals was in 2015, when Guinea advanced at the expense of Mali. In the 2024 tournament, it nearly reached the point of resorting to a draw to determine which team would qualify as one of the four best third-place candidates.
Although a draw may add an element of drama for neutral spectators, resorting to other settlements, such as the fair play record or attacking metrics, might be the better option for all competing teams.
United News Network – UNN Arabic
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