by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 20, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Soccer
Senegal were crowned champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after edging hosts Morocco 1–0 in a dramatic final that stretched into extra time, according to data and analysis from Sofascore.
The decisive moment arrived in the 94th minute when Pape Gueye struck the winning goal, sealing Senegal’s second AFCON crown in three tournaments and reinforcing their status as one of Africa’s most consistent and tactically disciplined sides.
Senegal’s dominance extended beyond the scoreboard. Sofascore’s official Team of the Tournament featured more Senegalese players than any other nation, a reflection of their sustained excellence, balance, and collective organisation throughout the competition.
Central to that success was a composed and hard-working midfield pairing. Pape Gueye and Idrissa Gana Gueye controlled games with positional intelligence, defensive awareness, and efficient ball use. Rather than relying on individual brilliance, the duo focused on dictating tempo and disrupting opponents, giving Senegal a strong platform in every match.
On the flanks, Krépin Diatta stood out for his relentless energy and tactical discipline. His ability to track back while still providing attacking width allowed Senegal to remain compact without sacrificing forward momentum.
At the back, Édouard Mendy delivered the assurance expected of a top-class goalkeeper. His calm command of the area and crucial interventions in decisive moments ensured Senegal’s defensive solidity remained intact on their march to continental glory.
Together, these performances underlined why Senegal not only lifted the trophy in Rabat, but also set the benchmark for excellence at AFCON 2025.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 20, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Soccer
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially released the full group-stage fixtures for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), set to be hosted by Morocco from March 17 to April 3, 2026.
The upcoming edition will mark a historic milestone for African women’s football, as WAFCON expands to 16 teams for the first time. The final draw was conducted on January 15, 2026, in Rabat, setting the stage for an exciting tournament across multiple Moroccan cities.
Below is the confirmed schedule for the group stage of WAFCON 2026:
Group A – Rabat & Casablanca
Teams: Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Kenya
March 17: Morocco vs Kenya – Moulay El Hassan Stadium
March 17: Algeria vs Senegal – Larbi Zaouli Stadium (Casablanca)
March 20: Morocco vs Algeria – Moulay El Hassan Stadium
March 20: Senegal vs Kenya – Moulay El Hassan Stadium
March 23: Senegal vs Morocco – Moulay El Hassan Stadium
March 23: Kenya vs Algeria – Al Medina Stadium (Rabat)
Group B – Rabat
Teams: South Africa, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Tanzania
March 17: South Africa vs Tanzania – Al Medina Stadium
March 17: Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso – Al Medina Stadium
March 20: South Africa vs Ivory Coast – Al Medina Stadium
March 20: Burkina Faso vs Tanzania – Al Medina Stadium
March 23: Burkina Faso vs South Africa – Al Medina Stadium
March 23: Tanzania vs Ivory Coast – Moulay El Hassan Stadium
Group C – Casablanca (Nigeria’s Group)
Teams: Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt, Malawi
Defending champions Nigeria will play all their group matches in Casablanca:
March 18: Nigeria vs Malawi – Larbi Zaouli Stadium
March 18: Zambia vs Egypt – Larbi Zaouli Stadium
March 21: Nigeria vs Zambia – Larbi Zaouli Stadium
March 21: Egypt vs Malawi – Larbi Zaouli Stadium
March 24: Egypt vs Nigeria – Larbi Zaouli Stadium
March 24: Malawi vs Zambia – Moulay El Hassan Stadium (Rabat)
Group D – Fes & Rabat
Teams: Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Cape Verde
March 18: Ghana vs Cape Verde – Fès Sports Complex
March 18: Cameroon vs Mali – Fès Sports Complex
March 21: Ghana vs Cameroon – Fès Sports Complex
March 21: Mali vs Cape Verde – Fès Sports Complex
March 24: Mali vs Ghana – Fès Sports Complex
March 24: Cape Verde vs Cameroon – Al Medina Stadium (Rabat)
With powerhouse nations, fierce regional rivalries, and a larger field of competitors, WAFCON 2026 promises to be the biggest and most competitive edition in the tournament’s history.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 20, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Soccer
Morocco midfielder Ismael Saibari has apologised to Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy following the controversial towel incident that marred the closing stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
Saibari came under heavy criticism after television footage showed him attempting to interfere with Mendy’s towel during the tense encounter in Rabat, an act widely viewed as unsporting behaviour. The towel, routinely used by goalkeepers to dry their gloves and the ball, became an unlikely flashpoint in a final already charged with emotion and controversy.
In the aftermath of Senegal’s 1–0 extra-time victory over Morocco, Saibari reached out to Mendy to express regret over his actions. The Moroccan international acknowledged that emotions ran high during the match and admitted his conduct was inappropriate.
Sources close to both camps confirmed that Mendy accepted the apology, drawing a line under the incident as Senegal celebrated their second AFCON title.
The episode was one of several flashpoints in a dramatic final that also featured disputed VAR decisions, a brief walk-off by Senegal in protest, and heated confrontations involving players and officials.
While the controversy continues to dominate post-match discussion, both players have now moved to de-escalate tensions, reinforcing calls for sportsmanship after one of the most chaotic AFCON finals in recent memory.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 20, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Soccer
Former Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits midfielder Michael Morton has expressed shock at the dramatic and controversial scenes that overshadowed Senegal’s victory in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
Senegal defeated hosts Morocco 1–0 after extra time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat to secure their second AFCON title. However, the triumph was nearly eclipsed by a series of disputed VAR decisions, unsporting behaviour from Moroccan players, and a brief walk-off by Senegal in protest.
Morton, speaking on his YouTube channel, described the situation as dangerously close to spiralling out of control.
“That was almost catastrophic for African football,” he said. “After what was a really good final, we almost had Senegal walking off in the AFCON final.”
According to Morton, the tension had been building long before kickoff. He revealed that Senegal declined to train at a Moroccan facility over fears their tactics could be observed and complained of poor security arrangements upon arrival in Rabat.
“When Senegal arrived, there was no security. Players were pushing through crowds themselves,” Morton explained.
“The preparation and build-up already created frustration. Ticketing issues, logistics — a lot of things were going wrong.”
The controversy intensified during the match, with several videos later surfacing online showing what Morton described as “dirty tactics” from Moroccan players.
One clip showed Ismael Saibari attempting to steal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy’s towel from behind the goal — a vital piece of equipment used to dry gloves and the ball.
A Senegal player was seen guarding the towel as Mendy sprinted toward the goal line, while Saibari appeared to block access in a bizarre confrontation.
In another incident, Achraf Hakimi was caught on camera throwing Mendy’s towel over the advertising boards during a stoppage, seemingly hoping it would go unnoticed. Moments later, El Hadji Malick Diouf leapt over the boards to retrieve it for Senegal.
Perhaps most shocking was footage showing Senegal players being physically dragged away by Moroccan ball boys while attempting to protect the towels.
Despite the chaos, Senegal regrouped, returned to the pitch, and ultimately prevailed through Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner, sealing a hard-fought and emotionally charged AFCON triumph.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 20, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Soccer
Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Laryea has strongly dismissed claims that he favoured host nation Morocco during their controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Nigeria.
The high-stakes match ended 4–2 in Morocco’s favour on penalties after regulation and extra time, drawing intense scrutiny on social media. Speaking to the media upon returning to Ghana, Laryea stressed that he officiated strictly according to the laws of the game, ignoring online criticism and rivalry-driven narratives.
“For me, I just do my refereeing. I just do football,” Laryea said. “I don’t listen to what goes in and out of social media. We just apply the laws of the game.”
The semi-final represented the biggest assignment of Laryea’s career, marking his first time officiating at that stage of the AFCON tournament. He acknowledged the pressure but emphasized the need for concentration, composure, and decisiveness.
“Semi-final matches are always the toughest because teams are fighting for a place in the final. Any team that reaches that stage has already achieved something significant,” he said.
Despite criticism from some Nigerian fans and players, Laryea’s performance has earned praise, with former Ghanaian Sports Minister Edwin Lante Vanderpuye describing him as “the best” referee of the tournament. Vanderpuye also suggested that Laryea’s showing could lead to future appointments at the FIFA World Cup.
