Was Senegal right to leave the pitch in the AFCON final? Thierry Henry answers | OneFootball

Henry reflects on AFCON final controversy

Was Senegal right to leave the pitch in the AFCON final? Thierry Henry answers

Thierry Henry said Senegal’s decision to leave the pitch during the AFCON 2025 final was wrong despite praising the tournament and Morocco’s hosting.

Former France star Thierry Henry weighed in on the dramatic events that marked the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final in Morocco which ended with Senegal defeating the host nation 1- 0 to lift the trophy.

Henry reflected on the tense moments that unfolded late in the final including controversial penalty awarded to Morocco in stoppage time, Senegal’s brief withdrawal from the pitch and their eventual return before securing the title in extra time.

Praise for the tournament & Morocco’s hosting

Henry began by highlighting the overall quality of the competition. He described AFCON as enjoyable tournament to watch underlining the high level of teams and the growing standard of African football.

He also praised Morocco’s organization noting that the stadiums,, hotels and general infrastructure met high standards. According to Henry the 2025 edition confirmed AFCON’s status as strong & attractive international tournament.

“Not the image we want to see”

While acknowledging the pressure and emotions of final, Henry was. clear in his criticism of Senegal’s reaction to the refereeing decisions. He stated that the players attempt to leave the pitch was mistake and not image football should promote.

Henry explained that while frustration is understandable in such high stakes moments walking off the field is not acceptable.

In his view,, such scenes do not reflect well on African football or football in general and should be avoided to protect the image of the competition.

The former Arsenal & Barcelona forward also commented on the decisive moment of the match. He praised Pape Gueye’s winning goal describing the finish as top quality.

Henry added that it was special to see Sadio Mane end his AFCON career by lifting the trophy after announcing his retirement from the tournament.

However Henry returned to his main point insisting that regardless of the final result, football does not benefit from scenes where teams attempt to abandon matches even in moments of extreme disappointment.