Mohammedia – Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw claimed that Sadio Mané deserved to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
He made his remarks ahead of the much anticipated Senegal vs Morocco.
Thiaw argued that AFCON has historically been viewed as a lesser competition in the evaluation of players for global individual honors, a perception he said has negatively affected African players.
He cited Mané as an example, saying that despite his performances, participation in AFCON was previously used to undermine his Ballon d’Or candidacy, as the tournament was not considered “major” enough.
The Senegal coach added that the situation reflects a broader issue tied to how African football is judged internationally.
According to Thiaw, AFCON now enjoys far greater global visibility than in the past and represents Africa’s image on the world stage, making it important to safeguard its credibility.
Thiaw’s remarks come in the context of the 2025 Ballon d’Or, which was awarded to Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain following Achraf Hakimi following a highly successful season at club and international level.
While Thiaw did not mention Hakimi by name, his assertion that Mané deserved the award places renewed focus on the criteria used in Ballon d’Or voting.
Hakimi was the favorite following a historic season with PSG, where he helped the club secure four trophies: Ligue 1, Champions League, Coupe de France, and Trophée des Champions. He also finished sixth in the 2025 Ballon d’Or ranking by France Football.
PSG also reached the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, with Hakimi starting in all key matches.
In the 2024/25 season, Hakimi recorded 6 goals and 4 assists in Ligue 1, and added five goals and four assists in the Champions League.
He also contributed defensively with 10 clean sheets and over 3,400 minutes played across all competitions.
Morocco and Senegal final game will take place tomorrow at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat at 8 p.m.
Read also: Senegal Coach Confident but Acknowledges Morocco as Favorite to Win AFCON