By Martin Graham
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will be remembered primarily for its dramatic conclusion, but the tournament offered much wider lessons beyond the Rabat controversy.
The stoppage marked the final moments of the final when it was decided in favor of a late kick the morocco he asked from Senegal players to leave the field of play. After a delay of more than a quarter of an hour, Brahim Diaz’s audacious penalty attempt was stopped before Senegal finally lifted the trophy.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui called the scenes “shameful”, while the Confederation of African Football has yet to confirm what, if any, disciplinary action will follow. Still, to focus solely on the final risks overlooking a competition that was generally well run and produced a record total of 121 goals.
From facilities and finances to refereeing and regulation, the tournament highlighted both progress and persistent problems in African football.
The facilities set a new benchmark
Morocco’s facilities and training centers received widespread praise, with the capital’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium widely regarded as the jewel of the final.
Hosting the AFCON was part of Morocco’s wider preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will host alongside Spain and Portugal. Major funding, backed by King Mohammed VI, has transformed the country’s sporting landscape, with officials describing the infrastructure as robust and meeting global standards.
More updates are already planned. Casablanca’s Mohammed V Stadium and stadiums in Fes, Marrakech and Agadir are awaiting renovation, while construction of a new 115,000-capacity stadium near Benslimane continues.
The playing surfaces also impressed, coping well with the heavy rain that has plagued previous hosts. The representative of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Omar Khyari, said that the event showcased national expertise, noting that much of the technology used was developed by local companies.
Observers elsewhere on the continent hailed the achievement, while Kenyan officials admitted it would be difficult to match Morocco’s scale for the 2027 co-hosted finals with Tanzania and Uganda, even if improvements are made.
Finances and rising profile
CAF recorded a strong increase in revenue generated by the tournament, with overall revenue increasing by 90% compared to the previous edition.
Ticket sales alone rose from $11 million in Ivory Coast in 2023 to $55 million in Morocco, while the number of sponsors and partners expanded to 23. Improved digital coverage also increased the visibility of the competition.
The governing body previously projected a net surplus of more than $114 million, compared with a profit of $75 million two years earlier. These figures raise questions about CAF’s decision to move the CAN to a four-year cycle from 2028.
There is also debate as to whether similar commercial success can be achieved elsewhere. Morocco has become a frequent host of major African tournaments, including multiple African Women’s Cup of Nations, leading Nigeria star Asisat Oshoala to describe the country as the football hub of the continent.
Match referees under scrutiny
Despite the organizational successes, refereeing standards attracted repeated criticism during the finals.
Regragui rejected claims that officials were favoring the host nation, arguing that disputed calls happen all over the world. However, the finale provided a prime example of off-the-cuff decisions that shaped the narrative.
Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala had effectively controlled the game until stoppage time, when he stopped play for a foul on Achraf Hakimi moments before Senegal scored. The sequence of calls, followed by the late penalty for Morocco, fueled Senegal’s sense of grievance and led to their relegation.
The video assistant referee system was also criticized. Reviews were often lengthy, some decisions were questioned and the semi-automated offside technology used at the previous AFCON was absent, despite Morocco’s heavy investment.
Safety, conduct and rules in focus
Security concerns were raised before and during the final. Senegal’s federation complained of inadequate protection when their team arrived by train in Rabat, where the players were surrounded by supporters.
Inside and outside the stadiums, people saw clashes, overcrowding and fans being held in small areas. While these issues are not unique to African football, they underscored the need for stronger crowd management.
Ticket allocation was also controversial, with Senegal being allocated fewer than 4,000 seats in a stadium with nearly 70,000. On the pitch, incidents of ballboys interfering with goalkeepers added to the tension, echoing similar episodes earlier in the tournament.
Finally, the competition exposed flaws in CAF regulations. The yellow cards were cleared after the group stage, leaving numerous players with a yellow card in the semi-finals. Key figures, including Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly, missed the final as a result, undermining the highlights.
The group stage rules also came close to forcing teams to be separated by a draw, a method last used in 2015. While dramatic, alternatives such as net play scores or attacking criteria are probably considered more acceptable.
