Thierry Henry believes the controversy that engulfed the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final exposed a deeper problem with refereeing standards, arguing that match officials failed to match the quality of a tournament that had otherwise been a showcase for African football.
The Arsenal and France legend said the actions of both the referees and Senegal during the decisive match undermined what should have been a celebratory conclusion to an outstanding competition.
Henry’s remarks came after a dramatic final in which Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 after extra time, but only after a sequence of incidents that sparked confusion, anger and prolonged delays late in the match.
Henry criticises officiating standards
Reflecting on the decisive moments, Henry suggested that the standard of officiating fell short of the occasion. He pointed to recurring issues throughout the tournament and insisted that referees struggled to cope with the pressure of high-profile matches.
In his view, those shortcomings contributed directly to the chaos that unfolded in the final, particularly during the lengthy VAR review that preceded a late Moroccan penalty.
The decision triggered an extraordinary reaction from Senegal, who protested fiercely before briefly leaving the pitch. For Henry, that sequence highlighted how poor control and communication from officials can inflame already tense situations in major finals.
“Watching the AFCON for a very long time, the referees are not at the level of the show. All the stuff that happen in those tournaments sometimes are made because of referee mistakes.
“I’m not blaming the referee, I’m blaming the people that are not training them to be at the level of the football that we’re watching, and that’s about it. Other than that, like I said so many times, it was a great tournament.”
Condemnation of Senegal walk-off
While critical of the referees, Henry was equally firm in condemning Senegal’s decision to abandon the field, even temporarily. Despite praising Morocco’s organisation of the tournament, he said the scenes during the final sent the wrong message.
“What you saw, the reaction of the team of Senegal wanting to leave the field was wrong. That’s not the image that you want to give, not just for African football, but for any football.”
Senegal head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw instructed his players to walk off after the penalty was awarded deep into stoppage time, with several heading toward the dressing room before captain Sadio Mané convinced them to return. Henry stressed that while emotions inevitably run high in finals, such actions are unacceptable on the biggest stage.
A final overshadowing a strong tournament
After a 14-minute delay, Brahim Diaz saw his Panenka penalty saved by Edouard Mendy, before Pape Gueye struck in extra time to secure Senegal’s second AFCON title in three editions. Yet Henry believes the lasting memory should not have been confusion and controversy.
