Claude Le Roy slams CAF decision: “The whole world will laugh at Africa”

A storm of controversy has erupted across the football world following the decision by Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip Senegal national football team of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 title and award it to Morocco national football team.

The CAF Appeals Committee announced that Morocco had been awarded a 3-0 victory over Senegal in the final, effectively ruling that Senegal forfeited the match. As a result, the title was officially reassigned to Morocco, sparking outrage among football figures worldwide.

Among the most vocal critics was veteran French coach Claude Le Roy, who has previously managed several African national teams including Senegal, Cameroon, Congo, and Ghana.

Speaking to L’Équipe, Le Roy did not hold back in his criticism of the decision and the leadership of CAF.

“I had never imagined, even for a single second, that the Confederation of African Football could go this far into such ridiculous absurdity,” he said.

He added: “When we see how CAF is being run under Motsepe, who is considered a follower of Gianni Infantino, who from the beginning wanted to give this trophy to Morocco at any cost.”

Le Roy continued his strong remarks, pointing to what he described as deeper issues within African football governance: “There are a lot of manipulations and suspicious deals within CAF. I believe this matter is not over yet, and that Senegal will eventually regain its rights, but it is unfortunate that CAF’s image has reached this level.”

He concluded with a stark warning about the global perception of African football: “This decision will make the whole world laugh at the African continent, which I love very much.”

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