By Hadiza Galadima
Despite a “blemished” and chaotic final, CAF President Patrice Motsepe hailed AFCON 2025 in Morocco as the most successful in history.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam, Motsepe praised the host nation’s world-class infrastructure and hospitality, noting it sets a high bar for the 2026 edition in East Africa.
While celebrating Senegal’s 1–0 victory and the tournament’s overall quality, Motsepe condemned the “embarrassing” scenes in the final.
Late-game VAR drama and a brief walk-off by Senegal following a controversial penalty nearly overshadowed the event, though Senegal eventually secured the title in extra time, making it most successful AFCON ever in terms of organization and quality.
Senegal beat Morocco 1–0 after a 15-minute stoppage caused by player protests. Motsepe vowed that the chaotic scenes at the Rabat final “will never happen again.”
The success provides a “foundation” for the 2026 tournament in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
