Morocco are Africa Champions! The crazy AFCON decision two months after the final

Alright folks, hold on to your seats. What the African football world has served up in the last 24 hours beats any Hollywood script. I mean, we're not talking about a missed penalty or a dodgy offside call. No, we're talking about an Africa Cup of Nations final being decided behind closed doors, after the fact. 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 that crazy final in Rabat on 18 January? The atmosphere was electric, all of Morocco was going wild. My buddies from Casablanca were sending me voice notes for hours – chants, prayers, pure euphoria. Then came that final phase: In stoppage time, a penalty is given to 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, celebration in Dakar. But it wasn't the end.

The moment that changed everything

In all the chaos, hardly anyone noticed what really happened before Diaz took the penalty. After the whistle for the spot-kick, some Senegalese players lost it. They felt hard done by; VAR had just disallowed a goal for them. So they did something you just don't do on the pitch: they walked off. Went to the dressing room. Sure, captain Sadio Mané brought them back, and the game continued. But the rule is clear. The CAF has now decided: A team that leaves the pitch without the referee's permission forfeits the match 3-0. So Morocco's appeal finally paid off. It's not a scandal, it's just applying the rules – even if it stings.

Credit where credit's due for the organisation

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

What remains is the jersey

For fans back home, the mood is naturally mixed. Sure, now they're African champions – but does it really feel like it? I was in a sports shop in Singapore last week when the first 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 too. People want to be part of this story, no matter how it came about. The jerseys are amazing anyway – that deep red with the fine, traditional patterns. A mate joked, "I'm buying this, 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 challenges. While some celebrate the title, there are others. The young people taking to the streets chanting, "Hospitals, not stadiums". They're asking why billions are poured into football arenas while public healthcare is struggling. The "Gen Z 212" protest movement is no small thing. It shows the tightrope the country walks: shining internationally while getting a grip on social issues at home.

Looking ahead

For players like Achraf Hakimi, the title is now official. They can now call themselves African Champions 2025. Senegal, on the other hand, will likely appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). So the debate continues. But for us fans, one thing's for sure: In football, nothing is impossible. Not even winning a tournament two months later.

And you know what? I'm already looking forward to the 2026 World Cup. The Atlas Lions will face Brazil among others. If the boys perform like they did at this AFCON and the fans roar them on like that, it could be their next big move. Whether on the pitch or behind closed doors.

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