Once again, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has delivered an impressive spectacle. It may not always be the pinnacle of footballing talent, but the competition manages to provide a sense of unpredictable chaos and unbridled entertainment that makes it irresistible to any viewer. Typically, an AFCON final produces raucous crowds, end-to-end football and enough laser pointers to necessitate an eye test. The recent AFCON 2025 final between Morocco and Senegal, however, went above and beyond anyone’s expectations.
This iteration of the final, while highly entertaining, did little to promote the values of sportsmanship in African football. The fixture was marred by allegations of match fixing, unsportsmanlike behaviour, and violent clashes. Moroccan ball boys continually attempted to steal the Senegalese goalkeepers’ towel amid the downpour and intense fighting broke out in the stands and even between members of the press. Undeniably, the most bizarre moment of the game occurred when the Senegalese players and management left the pitch in the last seconds of the game to protest the shambolic refereeing.
It all began with a questionably disallowed Senegalese winner, scored by forward Ismaila Sarr in the 92nd minute. The anger was therefore already palpable among the Senegalese players when Morocco were awarded a soft penalty in the final seconds of the game, following a foul on star forward Brahim Diaz. This proved to be an injustice that was unacceptable to the Senegalese team, who left the pitch for 17 minutes, leaving viewers unsure whether the match would continue with an empty Senegalese net.
This may seem far-fetched, but it is not in fact the first time an international football game was conducted with only a single team present. In 1973, the team representing the USSR refused to travel for a World Cup qualifier against Chile following the military coup led by General Pinochet. FIFA allowed the game to proceed with eleven men and, shockingly, Chile continued to the next round.
Back in Rabat, the Senegalese team did eventually re-emerge to face the fateful penalty. As if written in the stars, Brahim Diaz’s fanciful Panenka was saved by Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy taking the final to extra time. An early thunderous goal by Senegal’s Pape Gueye proved decisive when the game resumed and became the winner Senegal had dreamt of.
Shortly after the final whistle, a confrontation broke out between both managers, following remarks made by Morrocco’s coach Regragui lambasting the ‘shameful’ behaviour of the Senegalese team. As the post match press conference began, the vitriol of Regragui had not diminished. Moroccan journalists called for the resignation of Regragui, who responded with disdain for the journalist’s paper and desperate attacks.
Any viewer would be forgiven for assuming that the kerfuffle would come to its natural conclusion. When the Senegalese manager Pape Thiaw arrived for his press conference, however, he was met by boos from Moroccan journalists and applause from the Senegalese present. A division that prompted a scuffle between reporters of the respective countries.
Unfortunately, this is an unhelpful and unfair conclusion that undermines the day by day professionalism of African football and the chaos in the European sphere.
That said, the prospect of AFCON 2027 is exciting — it will no doubt be a tournament which will never fail to entertain and simultaneously astound the viewer.
“Brahim Diaz vs Niger” by Laloumance is licensed under CC BY 4.0.