By Angu Lesley
Thierry Henry says Senegal’s dramatic Africa Cup of Nations triumph over hosts Morocco should be remembered for its quality and emotion rather than the controversial scenes that unfolded in the final.
Speaking on CBS Sports’ UEFA Champions League show, the former France forward reflected on a chaotic extra-time conclusion that included a missed Panenka penalty, touchline protests and a brief attempt by Senegal players to leave the pitch before they eventually sealed victory.
Henry began by underlining his deep personal connection to the Africa Cup of Nations, revealing he has followed the tournament since 1988 — the last time Morocco hosted AFCON — when Cameroon defeated Nigeria in the final, led by Roger Milla.
I grew up watching the Africa Cup of Nations,” Henry said. “Where I’m from, that’s what you watched. It was about skill, great teams and special players. I will always watch it.”
He praised Morocco’s organisation of the tournament, describing the infrastructure, stadiums and team accommodation as “excellent”, before addressing the flashpoint moments that threatened to overshadow the final in Rabat.
Henry was critical of Senegal’s reaction following a disputed sequence involving a disallowed Ismaïla Sarr goal and a penalty decision moments later.
The reaction of wanting to leave the field was wrong,” he said. “That’s not the image you want to give — not for African football, not for any football.”
However, Henry acknowledged the emotional context and the speed at which events unfolded, pointing to captain Sadio Mané’s intervention in calling his teammates back onto the pitch.
Everything happened very, very quickly,” he explained. “Do I understand the frustration? Yes. The way it was handled? No.”
The former Arsenal and Barcelona striker also highlighted what he believes is a recurring structural issue within the competition.
Watching AFCON every year, the referees are not at the level of the football,” Henry said. “I’m not blaming the referees themselves — I’m blaming the system that doesn’t train them to match the quality of the game we’re watching.”
Despite the controversy, Henry insisted the tournament should be judged on its broader success.
For me, that doesn’t define the competition,” he added. “It was a great tournament, from the qualifiers onwards.”
He also welcomed Senegal’s triumph as a fitting moment for Mané, whose leadership and celebrations resonated across the continent.
It’s nice to see Sadio Mané winning it again,” Henry said. “The celebrations in Senegal show what it means.”
Henry’s verdict was clear: AFCON continues to grow in stature, but protecting its image requires officiating standards to rise alongside the football’s undeniable quality.
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