Veteran French football coach Claude Le Roy has strongly criticised African football authorities, questioning the fairness and credibility within the continental game. His remarks come in the wake of a controversial decision by the Confederation of African Football regarding the Africa Cup of Nations final, a ruling that sparked debate across the football world.
Le Roy did not hold back, doubting both leadership and integrity at the highest levels of African football.
Claude Le Roy: “I never imagined for a second that the Confederation of African Football could go this far in its absurdity. When you see how the CAF is run by Mr Patrice Motsepe, who is a follower of Gianni Infantino, who wanted from the beginning to give this cup to Morocco…
Morocco had a great tournament and deserved to win, but in the final match, the Senegalese team was the better team, and they won (1–0) after extra time. No one could have imagined hearing such a decision two months after the end, and over the years many refereeing decisions have been ignored within CAF.”
“I have spoken a lot about Infantino, who sees himself as the Trump of African football and believes he has all the authority to run the final tournaments. In Africa, he thinks he can get away with anything, and there are a lot of shady dealings and backroom deals.
I believe this story is not over yet, and that Senegal will ultimately get its due in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but what is happening is unfortunate for CAF’s image, and this decision will make the whole world laugh at African football.”
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Le Roy’s explosive comments made via l’équipe are likely to intensify scrutiny on CAF’s decision-making processes and could further strain trust in African football governance. With the possibility of a legal challenge at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the controversy appears far from resolved, leaving the reputation of the continental body hanging in the balance.
