Football legend Thierry Henry has criticised the standard of referee education in African football, attributing the contentious officiating that marred the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 to insufficient training for match officials.
Henry’s remarks come in the wake of dramatic events in the final at Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah, where Senegal players staged a brief walkout following disputed decisions against hosts Morocco. The controversial incidents capped a tournament already marked by contentious calls in Senegal’s matches against Nigeria, Cameroon, and Comoros.
Speaking to CBS Sports Golazo, Henry, who has followed African football closely since 1988, shared his perspective on the tournament.
“I grew up watching AFCON, starting with the 1988 edition in Morocco, and I’ve followed this most recent one as well,” the 48-year-old former France and Arsenal star said.
“The competition was excellent. Morocco did a fantastic job with infrastructure, stadiums, and accommodation.”
While praising the tournament’s organisation, Henry criticised Senegal’s reaction during the final.
“The reaction of the Senegalese team wanting to leave the field was wrong,” he said.
“It’s not the image you want to project, not only for African football but for the game as a whole. Do I understand their frustration? Yes, they believed they scored, and then after the penalty was awarded, they walked off. But that’s not how it should be handled. Thankfully, Sadio Mane called them back, and they saw the match through.”
Henry emphasised that the walkout should not overshadow the overall quality of the tournament, but he stressed that recurring refereeing mistakes need to be addressed.
“The tournament itself was great, exciting even after the quarter-finals,” he noted.
“The problem lies with the referees. I’m not blaming them personally—I’m blaming the systems that don’t prepare them adequately for matches at this level. The officiating has to improve if AFCON wants to maintain its reputation.”
When former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher suggested using European referees for African competitions, Henry firmly rejected the idea.
“African referees must be given the chance,” Henry said.
“It’s an African tournament, and African officials need to be in charge. What’s needed is better training, guidance, and support to ensure the officiating matches the quality of the players and the tournament.”
Following the final, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed that it had launched an investigation into the chaotic scenes at Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, condemning the walkout and promising appropriate action.
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