Morocco are African Champions! The unbelievable AFCON decision two months after the final

Right lads, hold onto your hats. What the African football world has served up in the last 24 hours beats any Hollywood script you could imagine. 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 by a boardroom decision. Two months after the final whistle. There 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, January 18th? That mad final in Rabat. The atmosphere was electric, all of Morocco was buzzing. My mates from Casablanca were sending me voice notes for hours – fan chants, prayers, pure elation. Then that final phase: in injury time, a penalty for the Atlas Lions. Brahim Diaz, the lad who chose to play for Morocco, steps up – and misses. Shortly after, Senegal scores to make it 1-0 in extra time. Despair in Rabat, jubilation in Dakar. But it wasn't the end of it.

The moment that changed everything

In all the chaos, barely anyone clocked what really happened before Diaz took his run-up. After the penalty was given, a few Senegalese players lost the run of themselves. They felt hard done by, VAR having just disallowed a goal for them. So they did what you just don't do on a pitch: they walked off. Headed for the dressing room. Sure, captain Sadio Mané brought them back out, and the game continued. But the rule is crystal clear. CAF has now ruled: A team that leaves the pitch without the ref's permission forfeits the game 3-0. So Morocco's appeal has finally paid off. It's not a scandal, it's just the rules – even if it's a bitter pill to swallow.

Fair play to the organisers

Mind you, the tournament itself was a massive success for hosts Morocco. Sure, they didn't win the title on the pitch, but this country showed what it's capable of. I've spoken to a few journalist colleagues who were there on the ground. Top-notch organisation, packed stadiums, perfect pitches – that wasn't a given, especially considering the sights we've seen at some past AFCONs. This was the dress rehearsal for the 2030 World Cup, which they're hosting alongside Spain and Portugal. If they keep up this standard, we're in for a treat. The investment in the stadiums and infrastructure has been colossal – you can see it on every single pitch.

What remains is the jersey

For the fans back home, the mood is obviously mixed. Sure, now they're African champions – but does it really feel like it? I was in a sports shop in Dublin last week when the first bits of fan gear arrived. The Puma Morocco home jersey men's was sold out within hours. The smaller sizes for the kids, the PUMA Morocco 2025 kids' home jersey, were flying off the shelves. People want to be part of this story, however it came about. The jerseys are class anyway – that deep red with the fine, traditional patterns. A mate of mine laughed and said: "I'm buying that, it's a piece of football history, crazier than anything we've ever seen."

A country between euphoria and reality

But it wouldn't be the real Morocco if football didn't also highlight the country's tougher edges. While some are celebrating the title, there are others. The young people taking to the streets chanting: "Hospitals, not stadiums". The ones wondering why billions are poured into football arenas while the public health service is under pressure. The "Gen Z 212" protest movement is no small thing. It shows the tightrope the country has to walk: shining on the international stage while trying to sort out social problems back home.

Looking ahead

For the players like Achraf Hakimi, the title is now official. From now on, they can call themselves African champions 2025. Senegal, on the other hand, will likely appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). So the debate 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 drawn 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 another chapter in the story. Whether it's written on the pitch or in a boardroom.

• The new champion: Morocco replaces Senegal as African champions.
• The reason: Senegal players leaving the pitch during final injury time.
• The result: 3-0 win for Morocco awarded retrospectively.
• The fan gear: The red Puma jersey is an absolute bestseller.
• The outlook: Next targets: World Cup 2026 and the home World Cup in 2030.