Morocco are champions of Africa! The insane AFCON decision, two months after the final
Right then, folks, brace yourselves. What the African football world has served up in the last 24 hours genuinely trumps any Hollywood script. I mean, we're not talking about a missed penalty or a dodgy offside call here. No, we're talking about an Africa Cup of Nations final being decided retrospectively, in a boardroom. Two months after the final whistle. It is what it is: Morocco are champions. Not the winners on the pitch, but the winners according to the rulebook.
A night nobody will forget
Remember it? 18th January? That mad final in Rabat. The atmosphere was electric, all of Morocco was going absolutely mental. My mates from Casablanca were sending me voice notes for hours – chanting, praying, pure elation. Then that final phase: deep into stoppage time, a penalty for the Atlas Lions. Brahim Diaz, the lad who chose to play for Morocco, steps up – and misses. Shortly after, Senegal score in extra time to make it 1-0. Despair in Rabat, delirium in Dakar. But it wasn't the end of it.
The moment that changed everything
In all the chaos, very few people clocked what really happened just before Diaz ran up to take that penalty. After the whistle for the spot-kick, a few Senegalese players lost it completely. They felt hard done by; VAR had disallowed a goal for them just moments earlier. So they did what you simply don't do on a pitch: they walked off. Went to the dressing room. Sure, captain Sadio Mané brought them back out, and the game finished. But the rule is crystal clear. CAF have now ruled: A team that leaves the pitch without the referee's permission forfeits the game 3-0. Morocco's appeal, then, has finally paid off. It's not a scandal, it's just the letter of the law – however painful it might be.
Credit where it's due for the hosts
All the while, the tournament itself was a massive success story for hosts Morocco. Sure, they didn't lift the trophy on the pitch, but this country showed what it's capable of. I've spoken to a few journalist mates who were out there. Top-notch organisation, packed stadiums, pristine pitches – none of it was a given, especially when you think back to images from some previous AFCON tournaments. This was the dress rehearsal for the 2030 World Cup, which they're co-hosting with Spain and Portugal. If they keep up this standard, we're in for a treat. The investment in stadiums and infrastructure has been colossal – you can see it on every single pitch.
What remains is the shirt
For the fans back home, feelings are obviously mixed. Sure, they're champions of Africa now – but does it really feel like it? I was in a sports shop in Zurich last week when the first batch of merchandise arrived. The Puma Morocco home shirt men's was sold out within hours. The smaller sizes for the kids, the PUMA Morocco 2025 kids' home shirt, were flying off the shelves too. People want to be part of this story, however it came about. The kits are absolute belters anyway – that deep red with the intricate traditional patterns. A mate of mine laughed and said: "I'm buying it, it's a piece of football history, and it's crazier than anything we've ever seen."
A nation between euphoria and reality
But it wouldn't be the real Morocco if football didn't also shine a light on the country's challenges. While some are celebrating the championship, there are others. The young people taking to the streets, chanting: "Hospitals, not stadiums". They're asking why billions are being poured into football arenas while the public health service is struggling. The "Gen Z 212" protest movement is no small thing. It highlights the tightrope the country has to walk: shining on the international stage while getting a grip on social problems at home.
Looking ahead
For the players, Achraf Hakimi and the rest, the title is now official. From now on, they can call themselves African champions 2025. Senegal, on the other hand, will likely take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The discussions will rumble on. But for us fans, one thing's for sure: in football, nothing is impossible. Not even winning a tournament two months after it's finished.
And you know what? I'm already looking forward to the 2026 World Cup. The Atlas Lions are up against Brazil, among others. If the lads perform like they did at this AFCON and the fans roar them on like that, it could be their next big trick. Whether it happens on the pitch or in a boardroom.
- The new champions: Morocco replace Senegal as Africa Cup of Nations winners.
- The reason: Senegal players left the field during stoppage time in the final.
- The result: A 3-0 forfeit win for Morocco.
- The kit: The red Puma shirt is a massive bestseller.
- The next step: Targets: World Cup 2026 and the home World Cup in 2030.