Thierry Henry slams AFCON 2025 refereeing after chaotic final

Thierry Henry has launched a strong critique of the officiating at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), following a highly controversial final between hosts Morocco and Senegal that descended into chaos and post-match fallout.

Speaking on CBS Sports Golazo during UEFA Champions League coverage, the former Arsenal and France striker described the refereeing performance as “not at the level of the show,” arguing that poor decision-making overshadowed what had otherwise been a high-quality tournament.

The AFCON final, played on Sunday at the rain-soaked Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, was decided by a dramatic strike in extra time from Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye.

However, the match was marred by disputed calls, including a penalty awarded against Senegal, which led to furious protests from Senegalese players and an attempted walk-off.

Henry was careful to separate the quality of the competition from the controversy of the final.

He said, “First, let me give some context. It’s the Africa Cup of Nations, held every two years, bringing together the best teams on the continent. This year, the competition was outstanding, high-level football, passion, drama.”

However, he argued that refereeing mistakes fundamentally altered the final.

“The referees are not at the level of the show. Many of the issues we saw stem from officiating errors. The final was an embarrassment in that sense, sad,” he added.

He highlighted moments where referees failed to allow advantage to play out before stopping the game, describing some decisions as “horrific.”

During the discussion, Jamie Carragher suggested that importing European referees could improve officiating standards at AFCON. Henry immediately rejected the idea.

“No, no, let’s not go there,” Henry responded. “This is about training and accountability in Africa. You can’t say that on air.”

Drawing on his own playing experience, Henry emphasised the importance of transparency from officials.

“When I used to play, what used to annoy me was that you never got an explanation from the referee,” he said.

While sympathetic to Senegal’s frustration, Henry was unequivocal in condemning their reaction during the final.

“What you saw, the reaction of the team of Senegal wanting to leave the field, was wrong. That’s not the image that you want to give not just for African football, but for any football,” he said.