Senegalese Football Legend Demoted in Belgium After Celebrating AFCON Triumph Amid League Struggles

Ibrahima Sonko, a staff member at Belgian top-flight club OH Leuven, has been demoted after his exuberant celebrations of Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations victory reportedly upset players following a crucial league loss.

The incident occurred on the team bus on Sunday evening. While the mood was sombre after OH Leuven's 1-0 defeat to Sint-Truiden, a result that leaves the club in a precarious position in their fight for survival in the Belgian Pro League, Sonko's attention was elsewhere.

A former Senegalese international with five caps, the 45-year-old was engrossed in the AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco.

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The tense match, held in Rabat, culminated in a dramatic end where Pape Gueye's goal secured the title for the Lions of Teranga.

According to a report by Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, Sonko was overcome with emotion at the final whistle. The former defender, who also played for Grenoble, allegedly began "singing and dancing" to celebrate his country's triumph.

This display of joy was apparently not well-received by the dejected OH Leuven players, who are said to have complained to the club's management. His celebration was described as "crossing the line."

In response, the club took decisive action. Sonko, whose role involved mentoring young talents and helping them integrate into the first team, has been reassigned. His duties will now be limited to the club's U23 squad, marking a sudden and significant demotion.

The AFCON 2025 final in Rabat reached a fever pitch as hosts Morocco and Senegal locked horns in a clash defined by absolute chaos and high-stakes tension.

The match exploded into controversy during stoppage time when Senegal’s players staged a sensational walk-off to protest a VAR-awarded penalty for the Atlas Lions.

After a tense 15-minute standoff that threatened to end the game prematurely, talisman Sadio Mane eventually convinced his teammates to return to the pitch to finish the fight.

In a moment that stunned the home crowd, Morocco's Brahim Díaz saw his audacious "Panenka" penalty attempt easily gathered by Edouard Mendy, sending the scoreless game into extra time.

The deadlock was finally shattered in the 94th minute when Pape Gueye unleashed a thunderous strike into the top corner, silencing the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

Senegal held firm through the remaining minutes to secure a 1-0 victory and their second continental crown, leaving a devastated Morocco to mourn a night of heartbreak and missed opportunities.