Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has shared his thoughts on the recently concluded 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), praising the tournament’s organisation while highlighting some issues with officiating. Henry commended Morocco for delivering impressive stadiums, hotels, and infrastructure throughout the competition.

Henry also weighed in on the controversial AFCON final, where the Senegalese team briefly walked off the pitch following a disputed penalty during their win against Morocco. He called the action “wrong” and not the image African football should project, while noting he understood the players’ frustration after believing they had scored a goal.

Despite the incident, Henry celebrated Sadio Mane’s victory and emphasized that the walk-off should not define the tournament. He urged teams to maintain professionalism and handle disagreements on the field appropriately.

On refereeing, Henry criticized the level of officiating, saying that referees are not trained to match the high standard of football displayed at AFCON. He stressed that the issue lies with the training and preparation of referees, not the referees themselves, as mistakes have affected several past tournaments.