Tunisia coach Mondher Kebaie explains why his players refused to return to the pitch

Tunisia Head Coach Mondher Kebaie has reacted to the controversy that surrounded their 2021  Africa Cup of Nations game against Mali at the Limbe Stadium.



Referee Janny Sikazwe was at the center of the game; the Zambian controversially ended the game on the 89th minute before his assistant could raise the board to display the extra added minutes.

The referee’s actions enraged the Tunisian bench as coaches and players ran into the pitch to confront the referee and were demanding an explanation for his ‘strange’ decision.

However, minutes after the incident, the referees and match commissioner instructed both teams to return to the pitch to play for an additional three minutes. Malian players showed up but the Tunisian team didn’t, so the referee declared Mali winners of the game since they were already winning 1-0 before the ‘final whistle’ was blown.



Mondher Kebaie said his players were already demoralized and were taking their baths when they were called back to the pitch to continue the game.

“The referee blew the whistle at the 85-minute mark at the 89-minute mark, it’s lunar. He deprived us of concentration. We did not want to resume because the players had already taken their baths, deconcentrated and demoralized in the face of this gruesome situation. ” he said.