Claude Le Roy Clarifies Comments on AFCON Decision, Says Morocco ‘Deserved Title’

The French coach said his criticism was aimed at how the ruling was handled, not at Morocco, which he said had no responsibility in the matter.

Rabat – French coach Claude Le Roy has stepped back from his earlier criticism of CAF’s decision to award the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title to Morocco, saying his comments were misunderstood.

Le Roy had initially questioned the timing and handling of the decision, which came nearly two months after the final, following Senegal’s walk-off in Rabat. But in a video message shared online, he made it clear that his criticism was not directed at Morocco.

“Hello everyone, just a small clarification for a few seconds regarding how people understood what I said about the AFCON final,” Le Roy said.

He explained that, in his view, the responsibility lies elsewhere. “Personally, I hold two people responsible, whom I consider unclear, the president of CAF and the president of FIFA, but not Morocco at all, because they had no role in this matter.”

Le Roy said some reactions wrongly suggested he was against Morocco because he questioned the decision. He rejected that interpretation.

“Some people thought that because I opposed this decision, which came two months later, I was attacking Morocco. That is completely false,” he explained.

The experienced coach also hailed Morocco’s overall performance during the tournament. “Morocco delivered an exceptional AFCON, maybe one of the best in history,” he added.

At the same time, he acknowledged that the final itself could be viewed differently from a purely sporting perspective. “Overall, Morocco deserved the title. In the final itself, maybe Senegal had the advantage, but that has nothing to do with the Moroccan players.”

His comments come as the debate around the AFCON final continues to grow, with Senegal expected to challenge the ruling before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Le Roy’s voice carries particular weight, given he was directly involved, seen speaking to Sadio Mané and urging him to continue the match amid Senegal’s controversial withdrawal.

For Morocco, the title stands. Even among critics, the rules are clear: Senegal committed a clear violation of Articles 82 and 84, and therefore, the match deserves a forfeit.