AFCON 2025: A Championship Observed From Afar
I was not physically in Morocco for the 2025 edition of the African Cup of Nations football championship that ended a week ago. I followed the events from my humble observatory in the hills of Wasimi. It was generally, a wonderful football experience, one that enjoyed global media attention.
My assessment of the championship,
therefore, is limited to media reports, information provided by persons that were a part of the month-long event that had drama, suspense and a little disappointment at the very end. This is my take on AFCON 2025.
AFCON 2025: A Festival Of African Football
The festival of the best of African football had plenty of everything, and more — colour, people, adventure, and the best of African football. Indeed, but for the last-minute drama of the final match, AFCON 2025 ticks most of the boxes to have made it the best in the history of the championship.
Online visa procurement for visitors was easy and free. The host cities were very safe, enchanting and welcoming for fans and officials.
Everywhere, the people were warm, hospitable and very friendly. Movement between the venues was smooth, and transportation was available, reliable, and fast.
Also Read: Super Eagles — An End, A New Beginning After AFCON 2025! –Odegbami
The venues had state-of-the-art facilities for spectators, the media and the players. The media coverage was first class. The hospitality facilities, the playing turf, and the quality of football played throughout were all world class.
Until the final days, the song on every lip was that the organisation was superb, a dress rehearsal for what Morocco would offer the world during the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
AFCON 2025 And The Atlas Lions Question
Then came the issue of the Atlas Lions.
Every country that hosts the Nations Cup aims to win it. It is an unhidden ambition. Federations do everything to achieve that objective without openly offending sensibilities, the laws of the game and the fundamental principles of CAF in organising the biennial event.
Morocco were no different. As highest ranked African team going to the championship, and not having lost any match on home ground in a few decades, their ambition had some basis and was well known. They mobilized their people to out-sing and out-dance all opposition!
But did they do anything beyond those? Was there a connivance with CAF to win at all costs? Were referees compromised and then engaged in a clandestine grand plot to make Morocco to win at all costs?
Of course, if the answer to any one of the questions above is ‘yes’, the integrity of CAF and of the beautiful game of football itself would be destroyed. Such plots are never conceived or implemented. No one, no country, no confederation, can orchestrate such a plot and hope to get away with it. The cost will be too high to bear should it happen or ever become public.
So, at AFCON 2025, I will not even contemplate, or consider such a possibility.
It did not happen. I did not see it, not even in some of the most contentious issues raised at the tail end that threatened to smear what was a great championship.
Home Advantage And Historical Parallels
In order to support their ambition, Morocco must have mobilised its citizens to attend matches and provide the kind of support that would lift the spirit of the players and make them perform beyond their normal capacities.
Also Read: 2026 – My ‘Resolutions’ And The Road To A Sports Revolution! — Odegbami
We were beneficiaries of such home-support when Nigeria hosted the championship twice in our history. We won on the first occasion in 1980. 20 years later we lost on the same ground, rather painfully, through an innocuous (definitely not malicious) ‘wrong’ decision of a referee that did not have the benefit of VAR at the time to help his judgement.
In Morocco, there was the VAR. unfortunately, its application during the matches were not consistent. However, during the final match it produced decisions that threatened to damage the image of AFCON 2025, and to question the integrity of CAF.
Referees, VAR And Integrity At AFCON 2025
I cannot address all the issues here but will look at one only. What I will not do is to add any fuel to the burning issues by allowing my heart to rule my head, or sentiments to take over reason.
To start with, there could never have been a grand conspiracy by anyone to make Morocco winners. To think so is to throw the integrity of CAF and AFCON to the dogs. It did not happen, has never happened and can never happen!
Are referees appointed and influenced to take sides and to punish specific teams? Even though they are human and can be influenced by individual biases, it is impossible to be categorical and to reduce everything to such assertions. We must accept reality and live with according all appointed referees ‘the benefit of doubt’, ascribing their ‘poor’ decisions to incompetency rather than bias.
They will then bear the full consequences of their decisions through elevation or demotion. That’s the best that can be done.
There has never been evidence to show that referees win championships for a country at the orchestration of anyone or confederation. Not that I know of.
Morocco was no exception.
There could not have been a grand plan by CAF for Morocco to win the trophy. To start to think that way would be to destroy the fibres of integrity that has kept football as the sacred and beautiful game that it is.
Until the final match of AFCON 2025, the matches were brilliant and beautiful, devoid of any major disputes and controversies.
Also Read: The Lush, Green Grass Of AFCON 2025! — Odegbami
There were a few marginal decisions taken by referees that could be considered too ‘soft’ or too ‘hard’, depending on who is benefiting from them. These decisions, in my opinion, are more of the head than the heart.
AFCON 2025 Final: VAR Decisions And Fallout
In the final match, the Moroccan fans, like the Ivorian fans in 2024 in Abidjan, went ballistic in their support. It looked overwhelming even though it is normal.
The main issue was the inconsistency by some referees in punishing similar offenses. It was a reflection of the quality of training they receive, their individual competency, as well as the process of selecting those that will officiate in the championship.
Specifically, was the goal denied Senegal in the match against Morocco justified? VAR revealed that there was a slight infringement by the Senegalese player just before he headed the ball that rebounded off the cross bar and was eventually scored. His push was slight, ‘soft’ and exaggerated by the Moroccan player. But it was an infringement nevertheless. Could it have been overlooked? In a crucial match and at a time such as in that game, to have done so would have been wrong. Soft or not, there was an offense! It was not conjured by the referee. He had to give it. The Moroccans benefited!
Was the penalty awarded the Moroccans at the very end justified?
The question is: ‘Was there an offense at all?’.
Again, VAR revealed an infringement, even in though it was ‘soft’ and was not brutal or malicious, but there was a physical tug around the neck of the Moroccan that he exaggerated to gain advantage. Again, the infringement was not conjured by the referee. It happened. Any opposing team, at that most crucial of times, would protest the heavy punishment for such a ‘soft’ offense. That’s what the Senegalese team did, understandably, until they took things too far and their protest degenerated and became the ugliest part of AFCON 2025.
Beyond those moments, the refereeing, generally, may not have been the best, but did not reek of ‘partiality’.
Those few ugly parts of the championship now dominate the social media space, have become the butt of many jokes, and now take centre stage in most discussions on AFCON 2025.
The Ugly Scene And Redemption Moment
Angry Senegalese supporters jumped over security fences and invaded the field in protest; they were repelled by security operatives; the players, led by their inexperienced coach, walked out of the field and returned to the dressing room (the cost of the much would have been forfeiting the match and attracting huge sanctions with this ill-advised decision); and Sadio Mane, a true football ambassador saved the game, his country and AFCON 2025.
Also Read: AFCON 2025 – Siddon Look! — Odegbami
Sadio, alone, remained on the field against all entreaties for him to join the protest and walk out. Instead, he kept his composure, aware of the consequences of that rebellious misadventure, and beckoned to his team mates to return and complete the remaining few minutes of the game that everyone assumed Senegal would lose with the penalty kick against them.
But fate had a different plot.
The teams returned to the field and play resumed with the penalty kick. It was probably the worst I have ever seen taken by a player. It had nothing. No power, no direction. It was a lob to the goalkeeper.
The crisis had taken its toll on the psyche of the Moroccans and the consequence became the defeat of their team on home soil, a ‘disappointment’ that they must consider a blessing now, because it saved Morocco and the entire championship from a smear that would have blighted both of them should they have won.
On the night, overall, the Teranga Lions of Senegal had been slightly better in a grueling match between the two best teams in the championship. On the basis of the football played, they deserved the coveted crown. The elements intervened and ensured that justice be done!
At the end, beyond the sentimental considerations, despite a few issues in the corridors of CAF, Morocco and CAF did well and must be commended for their organisation, innovation, justice and ensuring FairPlay during this wonderful AFCON in Morocco.
