Le Roy’s Surprising Pick: Morocco Shines at AFCON 2025 as Senegal Wins a Drama-Filled Final
27 January 2026
Le Roy Names Morocco as CAN 2025’s Standout Team
The veteran French coach Claude Le Roy, who has steered several African nations since the mid-1980s, picked Morocco as the best team of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, even though Senegal lifted the title against the host country.
Speaking as a pundit on Canal Afrique, Le Roy emphasized Morocco’s consistency and performance throughout the tournament, noting that the Atlas Lions remained the most steady side, but warned that fatigue showed in the final after a grueling semifinal against Nigeria, which opened the door for Senegal to clinch victory.
The Frenchman’s role in the final added drama, as Senegal briefly protested a penalty awarded to Morocco, an episode that amplified the tension of the decisive match.
Le Roy recalled the episode: “Sadio Mané came to me and asked what I would do if I were in his shoes. I told him simply: rally your teammates to the pitch.” Mane followed through, Edouard Mendy saved a Panenka penalty, and a late goal in the first half of extra time sealed Senegal’s win.
At 77, Le Roy remains one of Africa’s most nomadic coaches, having led teams including Cameroon, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Congo, and Togo, leaving a lasting imprint on the continent’s football history.
Bonus note: if a 77-year-old coach can still spot a winner, maybe the rest of us should schedule a coffee break a few dozen years earlier. Punchline aside, the drama proves AFCON never runs out of surprises.
