Jamie Carragher has seemingly reacted to the controversial overturning of the Africa Cup of Nations final, a year after facing backlash for his remarks about the competition.
Initially, Senegal national football team had secured a memorable 1-0 victory over Morocco national football team in Rabat. However, the result was later reversed after a ruling by the Confederation of African Football. The decision came following an investigation into Senegal’s actions during the match, when players walked off the pitch under instructions from their manager Pape Thiaw.
The walkout occurred late in the game after Morocco were awarded a highly disputed penalty. Although Senegal returned to the field after approximately 15 minutes, CAF deemed the protest unacceptable and ultimately stripped them of the title, awarding the trophy to Morocco instead.
Shortly after the announcement, Carragher posted a cryptic response on social media platform X, sharing a meme featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, which many interpreted as a subtle reaction to the controversy. His post drew attention partly because of the criticism he received in February 2025, when he suggested that AFCON was not a “major tournament” during a debate about Mohamed Salah and his Ballon d’Or chances. Carragher later acknowledged that his wording was clumsy, though he maintained his broader argument.
Following CAF’s ruling, several Senegal players publicly expressed their disappointment. Team captain Idrissa Gueye shared a message emphasizing that the experience and achievement could not be taken away from the team, regardless of the official decision. His teammate Iliman Ndiaye also reacted, posting a brief statement suggesting that their success had been earned rather than awarded.
The controversy stems from dramatic scenes during the final itself. Morocco were given a penalty in stoppage time after Brahim Diaz was judged to have been fouled by El Hadji Malick Diouf. In protest, Senegal temporarily left the pitch, delaying the match for over 15 minutes. When play resumed, Diaz attempted a chipped penalty, but it was comfortably saved by Edouard Mendy, keeping the score level.
The match then went into extra time, where Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal to give Senegal what initially appeared to be their second AFCON title in three tournaments.
Morocco reacted strongly to the events. Head coach Walid Regragui criticized Senegal’s conduct, calling it embarrassing for African football, while FIFA president Gianni Infantino described the situation as unacceptable.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation also announced its intention to pursue legal action against both CAF and FIFA, arguing that Senegal’s walkout disrupted the match and affected player performance. The federation insisted that the referee’s penalty decision had been correct and thanked supporters for their backing throughout the tournament.
Historically, CAF has not overturned AFCON final results, making this decision highly unusual. A comparable situation occurred in 2024 during qualifying, when Nigeria national football team were awarded a 3-0 win after refusing to play against Libya due to alleged mistreatment. Nigerian players reported being stranded for hours at an airport without basic provisions after their flight was diverted.
With Morocco now officially recognized as champions, they secure their first AFCON title since 1976, while Senegal are left to reflect on a controversial and unprecedented outcome.