Claude Le Roy (center), on the sidelines of the AFCON match between Morocco and Comoros, at Prince Moulay-Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, December 21, 2025. MANTEY STEPHANE / PRESSE SPORTS
After a suspenseful and chaotic final, the Senegal national team prevailed over Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, held in Rabat on Sunday, January 18. The Lions of Teranga secured their second continental title thanks to a goal scored in the 94th minute, amid total confusion. Just minutes earlier, the players had left the field to protest the referee's decision to award a penalty to Morocco, which was ultimately missed by Brahim Diaz. This was unprecedented.
It was Sadio Mané, the Senegalese captain, who convinced his teammates to return to the field, after quickly conferring with one of Africa's best-known coaches, Claude Le Roy, age 77. Now a consultant for Canal+ Afrique, the former coach of Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana and Togo spoke to Le Monde about the final.
What did you say to Sadio Mané when his teammates were heading back to the locker room?
This exchange with Sadio Mané happened while I was standing at the edge of the pitch – somewhere I honestly shouldn't have been. I had just moved closer to the field by sneaking in, because I could see things were getting out of hand.
