Thierry Henry Slams Refereeing Standard At AFCON 2025

French football great Thierry Henry has taken a swipe at the standard of officiating at the just-concluded 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, insisting that referees at the tournament failed to match the quality of football on display.

Henry made the remarks in reaction to the controversial AFCON final between hosts Morocco and Senegal, a match that descended into chaos after Senegalese players attempted to walk off the pitch in protest over several refereeing decisions.

Speaking on CBS Sports Golazo, the Arsenal Icon and France star said persistent officiating errors have continued to undermine the tournament.

“The referees are not at the level of the show. A lot of what happens in those tournaments sometimes is caused by referee mistakes. I’m not blaming the referee directly, I’m blaming the people who are not training them to be at the level of the football we’re watching,” Henry said.

The final was heavily criticised following the disallowance of a goal scored by Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr and a late penalty awarded to Morocco, which was taken by Brahim Díaz and eventually saved by the Senegalese goalkeeper.

While Henry acknowledged Senegal’s frustration, he condemned the team’s attempt to abandon the match, describing it as damaging to the image of the game.

“Senegal wanting to leave the field was wrong. That’s not the image you want to give, not only for African football, but for football in general. You don’t want to do that,” he stated.

Reflecting on his long-standing admiration for the competition, Henry revealed that his love for AFCON dates back to the 1988 edition hosted by Morocco, where Cameroon defeated Nigeria 1–0 in the final.

“I started watching the Africa Cup of Nations in 1988, and it was actually in Morocco. Cameroon won against Nigeria,” he recalled.

Henry also praised AFCON’s role as a platform for African talents who later excelled in Europe, naming the likes of Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o and Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has suspended Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw as investigations into the incidents surrounding the chaotic final continued.