beIN SPORTS has taken administrative action to suspend Moroccan commentator Jawad Badah from commentating on Morocco’s matches in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations due to his remarks during the Atlas Lions’ quarter-final match against Cameroon.
During his commentary, Badah referred to former Cameroonian striker Karl Toko Ekambi as a “legend,” a statement widely interpreted as provocative, particularly towards Algerian fans.
Ekambi had scored a crucial last-minute goal for Cameroon against Algeria in the World Cup 2022 qualifier, securing the Indomitable Lions’ place in the tournament and eliminating the Desert Warriors for the second consecutive time.
The Qatari network believes that Badah’s use of Ekambi’s name in this manner was intended to provoke Algerians, given the long-standing political tensions between Algeria and Morocco.
Fortunately for Badah, beIN SPORTS did not classify his actions as a “serious professional error,” otherwise his contract with the Qatari network would have been terminated. Instead, he will simply be barred from commentating on Morocco’s remaining matches in the Africa Cup of Nations.
It is worth noting that Morocco is scheduled to face Nigeria next Wednesday in the semi-finals, and if they win, they will meet the winner of the Egypt-Senegal match in the final.
