CAN 2025: la légende Mustapha Hadji fracasse Claude Le Roy et estime que "justice a été rendue" pour le Maroc
A few hours after the CAF press release stipulating Morocco's final victory in the last AFCON by default, and while Senegal announced its intention to appeal by taking the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Moroccan football legend Mustapha Hadji shared his opinion on this crazy situation on the show Rothen s'enflamme on RMC.
It's a turn of events that no one expected. On Tuesday evening, the statement from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) turned everything upside down: by announcing Morocco's final victory by default against Senegal in the last Africa Cup of Nations, the institution threw even more confusion into question its role and legitimacy, taking African football with it.
While the Lions of Teranga have announced their intention to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) - and the case is therefore not resolved - a legend of Moroccan football, Mustapha Hadji, spoke about the situation this Wednesday in Rothen s'enflamme on RMC.
"I think Morocco was simply respecting the rules of football."
And for the former attacking midfielder of the Atlas Lions (63 caps, 13 goals), this decision falls within a broader context where, according to him, "the laws of football have simply been respected".
"Justice has been served. I think there are rules in football, and if everyone does what they want when they want... From the moment there are rules, they must be respected. I think Morocco simply respected the rules of football. If the Senegalese players were in danger, if they risked their lives or were threatened, I would understand leaving the pitch, but in this case... If every time we have to discuss refereeing decisions, analyze everything, and act like this, it's complicated."
"The Africa Cup of Nations is a great competition, but I tell you from the heart, it's managed by incompetents."
As for whether the timing of this decision, communicated almost two months after the final, will cast more doubt on CAF and African football, Hadji believes that there is indeed a problem of competence within the institution.
"To issue such a decision two months later, of course it's surprising. From the moment the initial ruling against Morocco didn't follow through, it's complicated. Then, as an institution, we're obligated to see it through because there are laws. It's true that the referee was left somewhat alone, having to make decisions on his own when officials were on site who knew the law perfectly and should have made the decision on the day. We asked for a review of the situation, but two months is a long time. Today, we Moroccans are, of course, happy to be crowned African champions, but it doesn't have the same flavor, and we feel like we were given a gift. We can only blame the CAF officials; at some point, you have to put competent people in charge who can make a decision in a minute. Because right now, it puts the whole problem back on African football, and that's unfortunate because it's a great competition, but I'm telling you." "With heart, it is managed by incompetents."
"Talking about shady dealings, I think he's going way too far (...) He's the king of stupidity."
Mustapha Hadji concluded his speech by specifically targeting Claude Le Roy, the former coach of Senegal (from 1988 to 1992) and experienced coach of several African national teams.
"The entire competition was well organized, unfortunately the final was ruined and will go down in history as a complete mess, but we won it, which is crucial for Moroccan football. But I'm especially angry with certain people, like Claude Le Roy. For me, he's the epitome of stupidity because when he says things like there was foul play behind the scenes, without naming names... Talking about foul play, I think he's going too far. I respect him and his entire career, but this is just plain stupidity. At some point, you have to bring up proof of the foul play."
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