Former Senegal national team coach Claude Le Roy spoke about the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations during an appearance on Canal+. The French tactician offered a nuanced analysis of the two finalists’ journeys.
For Claude Le Roy, the analysis of this final must be viewed within the broader context of the tournament. According to the former coach of the Senegal Lions, Morocco was the most consistent team throughout the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, showcasing regularity, organization, and collective mastery that allowed them to dominate most of their matches. In his eyes, this consistency made the Atlas Lions the most complete team in the tournament.
On the other hand, Senegal stepped up when it mattered most. In the final, the Teranga Lions raised their game, both tactically and in terms of intensity and commitment, establishing themselves as the best team in that decisive match. “I think that overall, the best team of this AFCON was Morocco. And the best team in the final was Senegal. This victory in the final rewards a performance of higher quality,” emphasized Claude Le Roy.
The former French coach also believes that Morocco’s journey may have been affected by their fiercely contested semi-final against Nigeria. That particularly demanding match likely left both physical and mental scars. According to him, this extra expenditure of energy probably weighed on the freshness and sharpness of the Moroccan players as they approached the final, unlike Senegal, who appeared sharper and better prepared for this crucial encounter.
