Afcon 2025: Senegal are champions after final descends into chaos

Afcon 2025: Senegal are champions after final descends into chaos

From World Football by BBC World Service

January 18, 2026 · 19 min

About this episode

The episode discusses Senegal's chaotic victory in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco, highlighting key moments and controversies.

Lee James is joined by John Bennett and the former Nigeria international Daniel Amokachi for immediate reaction to Senegal winning the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the final descended into chaos in added time of normal time after Morocco were awarded a penalty following an intervention from the VAR, which led to Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw leading his team off the pitch before Brahim Diaz had his penalty saved. Pape Gueye then scored the only goal in the first half of extra time to secure the title for Senegal. Timecodes: 00:34 - Immediate reaction to a chaotic AFCON final 02:42 - Are Morocco fit to co-host the 2030 World Cup after how they handled this final? 04:21 - How much responsibility should Senegal take for the ugly scenes at the end of the game? 07:12 - An undercurrent of hysteria around refereeing decisions 08:43 - Analysis of decisions at the end of the game 11:04 - Sadio Mane - Senegal's greatest ambassador 11:50 - Brahim Diaz's failed Panenka - will it haunt him forever? 14:26 - Senegal trophy lift

People in this episode

Host: Lee James

Guests: John Bennett, Daniel Amokachi

Topics covered

  • AFCON final
  • Senegal victory
  • VAR controversy
  • refereeing decisions
  • football analysis
  • Morocco World Cup co-hosting

Keywords

  • AFCON
  • Senegal
  • Morocco
  • VAR
  • football
  • refereeing
  • Sadio Mane
  • Brahim Diaz
  • Pape Thiaw

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Senegal, Morocco

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