AFCON Final chaos not all bad

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In the insane world of celebrity, they say all publicity is good. Morocco may have lost the title, Senegal respect and African football credibility, but the controversial ending to Sunday’s 2025 AFCON Final may not be the all-around PR disaster it seems.

African football has come in for resounding criticism, ridicule even, following Senegal’s 1-0 win over Morocco, but the shocking scenes that marred an otherwise high-level contest may yet have a positive residue.

For one, the controversies ensured a dramatic, even blockbuster ending to the greatest AFCON ever. The final was exhilarating and enraging. It showed the progress of African football and reminded you of its perennial ills. You praised Morocco for putting on a show of a tournament and suspected them of appearing to be handed the trophy.

You rooted for Senegal and their perceived fight against the establishment, only to lambast them for their madness in walking off the pitch.

All that drama, all that entertainment, made for an unforgettable climax. Can we do this again soon?

Look, of the 36 AFCON finals, 13 went to extra time, with nine of those settled on penalties. Seven finals ended 0-0 after extra time. Yawn! In honesty, Sunday’s final was no borefest, even if the two sides went into extra time scoreless. They shouldn’t have.

There were chances for both sides throughout regulation. Then Senegal scored in the 92nd minute. Disallowed. Ibrahim Diaz was pulled down in the box. Penalty.  Bedlam!!!

Senegal fans celebrate during the AFCON final between Morocco and Senegal at Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat, Morocco on January 19, 2026.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui described it as a “final with a Hitchcockian script,” criticising his counter Pape Thiaw for damaging the image of the continent.

“The image we’ve given of Africa is shameful,” said Regragui. “A coach who asks his players to leave the field … What Pape did does not honour Africa. He had already started in the (pre-match) press conference. He wasn’t classy. But he is a champion, so he can say whatever he wants.

“We stopped the match in the eyes of the world for 10 minutes. That didn’t help Brahim. That doesn’t excuse Brahim for the way he hit the penalty. He hit it like that, and we have to accept it. We were one minute from being African champions. That’s football. It’s often cruel. We missed what for some was the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Thiaw was apologetic.

“We didn’t agree,” said the Senegalese coach. “I don't want to go over all the incidents. I apologise for the football. After reflecting on it, I made them come back (on the pitch)—you can react in the heat of the moment. We accept the errors of the referee.

“We shouldn't have done it, but it’s done, and now we present our apologies to football.”

African body CAF has subsequently condemned “the unacceptable behaviour of some players and officials” in the final, promising to take “appropriate action” against the guilty parties once the investigations are concluded.

Preferably, the punishments come within 24 hours of the final. That way, the headlines and narratives about the AFCON final will continue to spin. TikTok videos about a thousand other incidents that happened in the final, not captured by the main cameras, have been going viral—more details about the game continue to emerge.

What a final!