Henry Rejects Carragher Referee Proposal After Chaotic AFCON Final
Thierry Henry firmly dismissed Jamie Carragher’s suggestion to involve European referees at the Africa Cup of Nations following a dramatic and controversial final between Senegal and Morocco that ended with Senegal lifting the trophy.
The 2025 AFCON final at Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah was defined as much by officiating flashpoints as by football, with referee Jean Jacques Ndala at the center of multiple late incidents that sparked protests, delays, and heated post match reactions from both camps.
The most explosive moment arrived deep into stoppage time when Morocco were awarded a penalty moments after Senegal had a goal ruled out. Senegal players walked off the pitch in protest, forcing a delay of roughly 17 minutes as Sadio Mane attempted to calm his teammates and persuade them to return.
The final itself carried heavy significance. Senegal were chasing continental dominance while Morocco aimed to add another AFCON crown to their recent international rise. The match ultimately went to extra time, where Pape Gueye struck the decisive goal to secure the title for Senegal despite the surrounding chaos.
Inside the stadium, the atmosphere swung wildly between tension and disbelief. Early phases were fiercely contested, with both sides pressing aggressively and relying on quick transitions. Mane remained Senegal’s focal point in buildup play, while Brahim Diaz carried Morocco’s attacking threat between the lines.
Key incidents continued to pile up. The awarded penalty in the 98th minute became the defining controversy, with Senegal’s bench furious and head coach Pape Thiaw visibly enraged. When play finally resumed, Diaz attempted a Panenka from the spot, only for Edouard Mendy to gather comfortably before the referee blew for full time at the end of regulation.
Extra time brought clarity at last. Gueye’s goal gave Senegal the breakthrough they needed, but order never fully returned. Post match scenes remained tense, with both Thiaw and Morocco coach Walid Regragui facing sharp criticism during press conferences as debate over officiating dominated discussion.
The fallout extended beyond the pitch on CBS Sports, where Carragher questioned whether AFCON would benefit from importing top European referees to raise standards. Henry shut that idea down immediately, insisting African referees must be trusted and developed within their own tournament.
Henry acknowledged the need for better training and support but stressed that blaming the competition itself was misguided. In his view, officiating errors should be addressed through development, not replacement, particularly at a tournament that represents the continent.
The result leaves Senegal celebrating another historic AFCON triumph while the wider conversation now turns toward refereeing standards and tournament governance. With future editions looming, the final may yet prove a turning point in how African football chooses to refine its biggest stage without losing ownership of it.