France legend Thierry Henry has weighed in on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, praising the tournament’s quality while calling for urgent improvements in officiating.
The former Arsenal striker highlighted moments of controversy during the competition, including Senegal’s near walkout in the final against Morocco, and stressed that refereeing standards need to match the spectacle on the pitch.
Speaking to CBS Sports, Henry reflected on refereeing at the tournament as a whole before praising Morocco for hosting the tournament.
“The referees are not at the same level as the spectacle on the pitch. I don’t blame the referees themselves, but rather those who fail to train them to match the quality of the football we are watching,” he explained.
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He acknowledged Morocco’s efforts in hosting and infrastructure but criticised how some situations, particularly Senegal’s reactions, were handled.
“AFCON was exceptional. You never want to see a team leave the pitch, but for me, that won’t define the course of the tournament. Morocco has done incredible work in terms of infrastructure. Senegal’s reaction was poor. While I understand their frustration, I do not agree with the manner in which they handled it,” he said.
The former striker rejected the idea of bringing in European referees, insisting that African officials must be given the opportunity to rise to the occasion.
“It is an African tournament; it must be African referees. There are too many mistakes. People blame the tournament, but the tournament itself isn’t the problem. There is one thing I think must change to ensure a better tournament: the refereeing,” he added.
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Meanwhile, watch as Ghanaians celebrate Senegal’s AFCON triumph
