Mustapha Hadji criticises Claude Le Roy over comments on Morocco’s AFCON title

Former Morocco international Mustapha Hadji has strongly criticised Claude Le Roy following remarks questioning the circumstances under which Morocco were awarded the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title.

The dispute follows the decision by the Confederation of African Football Appeals Committee to strip Senegal of the title and award it to Morocco, a ruling that has continued to generate debate across the football community.

Speaking on the programme Rothen s’enflamme on RMC, Hadji reacted to comments made by Le Roy a day earlier on L’Equipe du Soir on L’Équipe.

Le Roy, who has previously coached several African national teams including Senegal, Cameroon and Togo, suggested that there had been “a lot of shady dealing (…) to decide that Morocco will be champion”.

Hadji, a former African Ballon d’Or winner, said the remarks were unacceptable and accused Le Roy of making claims without evidence. In a strongly worded response, he said:

“The entire competition was well organized, unfortunately the final was ruined and will go down in history as a complete mess, but we won it, which is crucial for Moroccan football. But I blame certain people most of all, like Claude Le Roy. For me, he’s the epitome of stupidity because when he says things like there was foul play behind the scenes, without naming names… Talking about foul play, I think he’s going too far. I respect him and his entire career, but this is just plain stupidity. At some point, you have to bring up proof of the foul play.”

🗣💬 “J’en veux à Claude Le Roy. C’est le roi de la bêtise et de la connerie ! Quand il parle de magouille, qu’il nomme des gens et amène des preuves.”

Mustapha Hadji, légende du foot marocain, fustige les propos de l’ex-sélectionneur après la réattribution du titre de la CAN. pic.twitter.com/SYZjcyUHOW

— Rothen s’enflamme (@Rothensenflamme) March 18, 2026

The exchange highlights the growing tension surrounding the outcome of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, which has remained under scrutiny since the final ruling.

Hadji’s intervention reflects a broader reaction within Moroccan football circles, where the legitimacy of the title is being defended against criticism.

At the same time, comments such as those made by Le Roy underline the continuing divisions over the decision.

As the debate continues, the controversy surrounding AFCON 2025 shows little sign of fading, with differing views still shaping the narrative around one of the most disputed outcomes in the competition’s history.