2025 AFCON Final: Mane, Man of The Moment
By Emmanuel Njaka
Many football pundits and enthusiasts around the globe were largely disappointed with the level of officiating witnessed in the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) with host country, Morocco firing from all cylinder to win the priceless trophy.This snowballed into obvious reason behind massive support enjoyed by the Terenge Lions of Senegal on the final match between them and the Atlas Lions of Morocco as a lot fans believed that the match officials were tipped to favour the host.
As the Super Eagles of Nigeria whose performance were rated
high in the tournament lost to the host in semi final bout, many of its supporters had no choice than to route for the West African nation in the final, Senegal.
Hell let loose as the South African center referee in the AFCON final match, Ndala Jean-Jacques awarded a controversial penalty to the Moroccan team having reviewed Video Assistant Referee (VAR) severally to claim that Senegal player, Abdoulaye Seck fouled Moroccan defender,Achraf Hakimi at the Senegal's 18-yard box. Terenge Lions players were incensed and forced to abandon the match already clocking to stoppage time.
Amidst this controversy, only one Senegalese player stood out and that was Sadio Mane. When the team's coach, Pape Thiaw asked them to leave the pitch for dressing room, he solicited for the opinion of Claude Le Roy, a French man who coached many national teams like Togo, Congo, Congo DR,etc. It was Le Roy that told him that they must return to the pitch. Mane also spoke to El Hadji Diouf, former Teranga Lions hitman who concurred to Le Roy's opinion.
In his words: "First of all, I would like to thank the Senegalese people. It wasn’t easy, but we did it together. I’m so happy. As I’ve already said, for me, with the Africa Cup of Nations, it’s over."
He also faulted the penalty awarded against his team. "Regarding the penalty, I don’t think it was a penalty. But if the referee decides it is, there’s no problem.
Everyone wanted to leave. I asked Claude Leroy for his opinion, and he told me we had to play. El Hadji Diouf told me the same thing. I told the guys: whatever happens, we have to take responsibility. We’re going to play.”
Mane equally backed his team's coach who got infuriated by the referees decision and asked his players to leave the pitch. "First, I like what the head coach did, he showed that the integrity of the competition has been compromised as shown in some of the matches. The referee cancelled a clean goal by Senegal. The players begged him to go see the VAR he refused, but when it was penalty for Morocco he went and looked at the VAR".