Hervé Renard has described the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco as a largely impressive occasion undermined by a disappointing ending, following Senegal’s 1-0 victory in a match marked by late controversy.
The decisive game of the tournament sparked strong reactions across the football world, and Renard was among the prominent voices invited to reflect on an encounter that will be remembered as much for its tension as for its quality.
Speaking to RMC Sport, the former Morocco coach and two-time AFCON winner summed up his view with a vivid metaphor: “It was like a meal where everything was very good except the dessert.”
Renard, who won the continental title with Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015, said the final left a lingering sense of frustration despite the high standard shown throughout the competition.
He stressed that the tournament as a whole had been exceptional, explaining that he followed every match and regarded the level of football as remarkable.
“It’s a shame because I thought it was a remarkable competition. I followed all the matches, I didn’t miss a single second, and unfortunately it ended a little sadly. Of course, we can say that there’s a worthy winner and two great teams in the final, certainly the two best teams in the tournament, but we’re still left a little unsatisfied. We’ll probably forget about it for a while, it will fade, but there are still some powerful images that will stay with us.”
Renard’s comments referred to the chaotic conclusion of the match, which included the temporary withdrawal of Senegalese players, a stoppage in play and unrest in the stands.
Those moments overshadowed what had otherwise been a tightly contested final between two sides widely viewed as the strongest in the competition.
The French coach also addressed the reaction of Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw, who was seen as the initial instigator of the protest that disrupted the game.
While critical of the decision, Renard adopted a measured tone, pointing to the intense pressure surrounding the final.
“It seems unrealistic, but I think they felt uncomfortable. I know Pape Thiaw, he’s a good person. He reacted like that, but he apologized after the match, so at least he acknowledges his mistake. It’s true that we can’t do that, because otherwise, it would be endless in every match. So it’s true that it’s not an exemplary attitude, but sometimes in a heated moment like this, mistakes can happen; it can happen to anyone. Let’s just say it came at the wrong time. Especially since, when you see the outcome of this final, you wonder how it’s possible that it ended like that. But it’s done, and now there’s nothing we can do about it.”
🇲🇦 Hervé Renard s’exprime sur RMC sur la Panenka de Diaz : “Est-ce que c’est de la désinvolture ? Du stress ? Un changement de dernière seconde ? Il y a de l’incompréhension.”https://t.co/RU40di9arq
— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) January 22, 2026
Renard’s verdict captures the mood of a final that crowned a deserving champion but left many reflecting on how a memorable tournament concluded in controversy.
