By Neilley Claude EBESSA
Journalist kick442.com – Cameroon
As Senegal threatened to walk off the pitch following a refereeing dispute during the AFCON 2025 final in Morocco, a decisive intervention by Claude Le Roy changed the course of history. A look back at a major psychological turning point.
Chaos nearly prevailed. Frustrated by a disallowed goal and the VAR’s silence, the Teranga Lions briefly considered a forfeit. It was in the stadium corridors that captain Sadio Mané sought the counsel of the veteran Claude Le Roy.
Faced with the fury of the Senegalese staff, the “White Witch Doctor” responded with composure: In football, there is often injustice. Tell your teammates to get back on the pitch and resume the match; it is the best solution,” he advised the star forward.
Convinced, Mané rallied his troops with a single command: stand tall, no matter the scenario. This choice paid off as Senegal ultimately secured the win, transforming their sense of injustice into a fuel for victory.
The 2025 African Champion title will forever be marked by this tunnel dialogue, where the clarity of a legend allowed Senegalese talent to prevail until the very end.
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