When Le Roy Takes a Jab at Egypt: AFCON Semifinal Sparks Lighthearted Fire
16 January 2026
Senegal reach the final after a measured win
Senegal booked their place in the Africa Cup of Nations final by edging Egypt 1-0 in a tightly contested semifinal held in Morocco. Despite a cautious display from the Egyptians, the game was decided by a single goal, and Egypt mostly sat back, managing just one shot on target before the final whistle.
Le Roy mocks the Egyptians
French coach Claude Le Roy teased the performance on Canal+, joking that the encounter resembled a clash between a college graduate and a student taking a basic-education test. His quip drew attention as a sharp aside to the result, offering a moment of levity amid the tension.
Reaction from Egypt and what’s next
Hossam Hassan fired back post-match, accusing the officials of injustice amid remarks about changes of venue and criticizing the refereeing. He claimed that Egypt has seven titles, arguing that such a tally is unattainable by any other team. Egypt now faces Nigeria in the bronze-medal match, with their AFCON 2025 campaign continuing for one last game.
From the sidelines, the Senegalese celebration was tempered by the pragmatic mood of the AFCON stage, where the match’s fate was sealed by a lone strike and a chorus of analysts weighing up the fallout.
In a post-match moment, Le Roy’s quip lingered, illustrating how humor can puncture the intensity of high-stakes football without deflating the result.
Egypt’s next fixture remains the bronze medal match against Nigeria, a finale that will attempt to close a turbulent chapter with a more favorable ending for the Pharaohs.
Sniper punchline #1: If Le Roy’s mic were a shot, Egypt would have needed the post to save it.
Sniper punchline #2: Egypt’s seven titles are so legendary that even the trophy cabinet needs a fresh coat of paint to fit all the gold.
