It was stronger than him, but it cost him dearly. This Sunday, Ibrahima Sonko experienced a mixed evening. “Talent manager” within the Belgian club Oud-Heverlee Louvain, the former defender was divided between his team’s match in the first division and the final of the African Cup of Nations played by Senegal, his country of origin.
And the two teams had opposite destinies. At around 9 p.m., OHL first lost to Sint-Truiden, remaining stuck at the bottom of the standings, under the threat of relegation to the second division. At the same time, the CAN 2025 final was becoming completely crazy, with the penalty whistled against the Senegalese, ultimately missed by Brahim Diaz, and the coronation of the Lions of Teranga in overtime.
Despite the defeat, Ibrahima Sonko could not resist celebrating this title. Drunk with joy on the bus, where the atmosphere was nevertheless gloomy, the former Premier League player, who has five caps with Senegal, let himself be carried away by intoxicating songs and dances. A behavior which shocked several players, who did not hesitate to express their dissatisfaction according to the Belgian media Het Nieuwsblad.
The consequence was immediate: the Senegalese was demoted to the under-23 team. While he had to manage the young players who joined the professional group and provide them with his experience, he will now be limited to the hopeful squad, without accessing the pros. A hard blow for the 45-year-old, who launched his coaching career in 2024.
