African Football Discussion Thread Current Topic: 👉 AFCON 2025/2026

[Ale88]

I just read the story about the Moroccan ball boys who stole the towels from the goalkeepers, in order to prevent them to properly clean/dry the gloves. And it's ridicolous. And then I saw the video of the Moroccan ball boys literally assaulting Senegal's second goalkeeper, Diouf, who, knowing what they were going to do, was standing the to the goal holding the towel in his hands, and since he wasn't giving them the towel they pushed him and put their hands on him. How is this even allowed?! I'm so glad Senegal win, this was pure karma. I really hope we'll never see something like this ever again.

It’s ironic that Morocco was given the Fair Play Award right after the world saw how they treat opposing players. They deserve to be punished by CAF, not given an award.

I didn't know about the Fair Play Award to Morocco but, at this point, I can't even say I'm surprised, they clearly wanted Morocco to win the competition.

But why did they want this? did they deserve it better because they were the host? or because they have shown better facilities than most African countries possess to be able to host this competition? They looked too entitled and showed to the world that they are bad losers.

Do you think this recent show from the Moroccans will affect their chances of hosting future major competitions? They have interest to host the AFCON in 2028.

https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2025/12/273178/morocco-reportedly-considers-bid-to-host-afcon-2028/

Why? The reasons are always the same: prestige, money, power, corruption... We will never know but I've been watching football for all my life and I've never seen something like the towel situation, not even when I used to play as a kid in local competitions. It's mind blowing that not a single referee or assistant made them stop, they were literally assaulting Senegalese players, many people probably still don't realize how serious that is. And I am surprised by Senegal's second goalkeeper composure because he had every right to fight back those little assholes. And shame on Hakimi too, I really liked him before this tournament. Morocco's reputation is destroyed after this cup, and it sucks for the whole Africa because I'm sure the whole continent was supporting them during the last WC, now how would any African be on their side?

[Nightwatchmare]

Morocco almost tarnished the image of the African cup of Nations, I don't think they almost did but they did tarnish the image of African football something that took so long to build.
How can you host the African cup of Nations and now feel entitled to lifting the title it does not even make any sense to me. The towel incidence with goal keepers still baffles me, I was also very disgusted to see Hakimi with so much exposure doing it, taking the goal keeper's towel and throwing it away.

Yes, Morocco almost tarnished the image of African football, but Sadio Mane good gesture of not following his teammates to walk out of the field of play saved African football, and that good gesture also prevented Senegal from being disqualified in the Afcon finals. Morocco cannot remember the last time they won the Afcon tournament, and since they were the host of the 2025 Afcon tournament, they want to use home advantage to lift the Afcon cup. I do not even know the reason why Morocco ball balls and players were so interested in taking goalkeepers's towel in the Afcon tournament, but i like the way Senegal second goalkeeper fought them so hard and stopped them from taking Mendy's towel in the Afcon finals.

[Slow death]

Morocco cannot remember the last time they won the Afcon tournament

It has been 50 years since Morocco last won the AFCON, and that's a very long time. According to this website:

https://www.britannica.com/sports/Africa-Cup-of-Nations-winners-2227474

the last time Morocco won the AFCON was in 1976, during the years when many African countries were gaining independence.

and since they were the host of the 2025 Afcon tournament, they want to use home advantage to lift the Afcon cup.

Unfortunately, this behavior isn't unique to Morocco; all African countries share this mindset: when a team organizes a tournament, they immediately believe it will be a significant advantage in winning. Therefore, the police and referees often serve the organizing team. The referees don't explicitly show their support for the organizing team, but they officiate in a way that gives the home team the greatest advantage.

[Iroh]

I didn't know about the Fair Play Award to Morocco but, at this point, I can't even say I'm surprised, they clearly wanted Morocco to win the competition. It's a pity to see this type of things because it really makes you wonder how far corruption can go. So many wrong things happened in this final, the CAF doesn't come out well, at all.

It's crazy how Morocco would be awarded the fair play award after trying all they could to frustrate the opposition. It was quite embarrassing and shameful to watch some of the Moroccoan players, their ball boys and even an official engage in stupid acts meant to frustrate their opposition. They did it with Nigeria and again, they, without any shame, did it again while playing against Senegal. Giving them the fair play award is plain crazy.
The brazen impunity displayed by Morocco should never be encouraged but unfortunately this fair play award given to them does just that.

[Fiatless]

But why did they want this? did they deserve it better because they were the host? or because they have shown better facilities than most African countries possess to be able to host this competition? They looked too entitled and showed to the world that they are bad losers.

Do you think this recent show from the Moroccans will affect their chances of hosting future major competitions? They have interest to host the AFCON in 2028.

https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2025/12/273178/morocco-reportedly-considers-bid-to-host-afcon-2028/

I would have to commend the organisers of the Afcon in Morocco for the world-standard facilities that were put in place. The host showed that African football is developing rapidly in terms of quality stadiums.

CAF and FIFA have to investigate the allegations that have been filled against all the teams. A comprehensive report should be published and defaulters santioned accordingly. Howver, form my observation Morrocco should be sanctios, if possible  banned from hosting any competition for some years.

[Fivestar4everMVP]

I didn't know about the Fair Play Award to Morocco but, at this point, I can't even say I'm surprised, they clearly wanted Morocco to win the competition. It's a pity to see this type of things because it really makes you wonder how far corruption can go. So many wrong things happened in this final, the CAF doesn't come out well, at all.

It's crazy how Morocco would be awarded the fair play award after trying all they could to frustrate the opposition. It was quite embarrassing and shameful to watch some of the Moroccoan players, their ball boys and even an official engage in stupid acts meant to frustrate their opposition. They did it with Nigeria and again, they, without any shame, did it again while playing against Senegal. Giving them the fair play award is plain crazy.
The brazen impunity displayed by Morocco should never be encouraged but unfortunately this fair play award given to them does just that.

It is very unfortunate and embarrassing to be honest, with the way things happened, it's no longer a debate whether or not CAF had a candidate they wanted to win the AFCON in mind because we all have seen and come to the conclusion that Morocco was their choosen candidate, I was browsing on X this afternoon and came across a tweet where the user was saying that Morocco through backdoor had already paid CAF to ensure that they gain support to win the AFCON, but as we all saw, things didn't turn out as CAF initially arranged it and right now, CAF must do everything within their power to ensure they appease Morocco so they do not bring issues that could leak the contractial agreement..

I doubted the above but with this fair play award given to Morocco, I am beginning to believe that indeed, the claim that morocco had initially paid to win the AFCON which they ended up not getting is a true.. 🤔

[Nightwatchmare]

Morocco cannot remember the last time they won the Afcon tournament

It has been 50 years since Morocco last won the AFCON, and that's a very long time. According to this website:

https://www.britannica.com/sports/Africa-Cup-of-Nations-winners-2227474

the last time Morocco won the AFCON was in 1976, during the years when many African countries were gaining independence.

Staying 50 years without winning Afcon cup is a lot of years. I see the reason Morocco was doing everything possible for them to win the 2025 Afcon cup. I am imagining how Morocco could stay for 50 years without winning the Afcon cup after they last won it in 1976 because Morocco has one of the best teams in African.

and since they were the host of the 2025 Afcon tournament, they want to use home advantage to lift the Afcon cup.

Unfortunately, this behavior isn't unique to Morocco; all African countries share this mindset: when a team organizes a tournament, they immediately believe it will be a significant advantage in winning. Therefore, the police and referees often serve the organizing team. The referees don't explicitly show their support for the organizing team, but they officiate in a way that gives the home team the greatest advantage.

Some people were blaming Senegal players for walking out of the field of play when they felt the referee was being biased to them, but i so much like what Senegal did because that was the only way they could stop Morocco from using their influence as host of the Afcon tournament to lift the Afcon cup.

[Callido]

I would have to commend the organisers of the Afcon in Morocco for the world-standard facilities that were put in place. The host showed that African football is developing rapidly in terms of quality stadiums.

CAF and FIFA have to investigate the allegations that have been filled against all the teams. A comprehensive report should be published and defaulters santioned accordingly. Howver, form my observation Morrocco should be sanctios, if possible  banned from hosting any competition for some years.

It was only the infrastructural side of Morocco that was enjoyed in the AFCON, the stadiums and other facilities were alright as well, but the behavior by the Moroccans truly surprised us, they didn't just come to play in the AFCON or hosted the AFCON as the host for the tournament, they had the motive of winning the AFCON using every means they possibly can.

Any sanction Morocco claims to file against Senegal is useless, the tried to stress their opponents mentally in a way it will affect their performance, rob with VAR and referee, drag items meant for the keeper, gave their own fans tickets that were suppose for the other side, many other things which they did wrong to mess with the players, it's wrong for them to make such move.

[Spaceman1000$]

Morocco almost tarnished the image of the African cup of Nations, I don't think they almost did but they did tarnish the image of African football something that took so long to build.
How can you host the African cup of Nations and now feel entitled to lifting the title it does not even make any sense to me. The towel incidence with goal keepers still baffles me, I was also very disgusted to see Hakimi with so much exposure doing it, taking the goal keeper's towel and throwing it away.

Yes, Morocco almost tarnished the image of African football, but Sadio Mane good gesture of not following his teammates to walk out of the field of play saved African football, and that good gesture also prevented Senegal from being disqualified in the Afcon finals. Morocco cannot remember the last time they won the Afcon tournament, and since they were the host of the 2025 Afcon tournament, they want to use home advantage to lift the Afcon cup. I do not even know the reason why Morocco ball balls and players were so interested in taking goalkeepers's towel in the Afcon tournament, but i like the way Senegal second goalkeeper fought them so hard and stopped them from taking Mendy's towel in the Afcon finals.

That towel issue has been getting me thinking, and I even saw on social media where people were having the discussion about the importance of the towel and how the Moroccans side wanted to take it, some say that it was because the Moroccans didn't want Mendy to have something to wipe his face with whenever the need arises, others had different opinions but then, it was a controversy that needs to also be looked into.  But most sincerely I think Moroccans should be taught on how to be sportsmanly, they should under that in the game of football, you lose some, you win some.

[EL MOHA]

That towel issue has been getting me thinking, and I even saw on social media where people were having the discussion about the importance of the towel and how the Moroccans side wanted to take it, some say that it was because the Moroccans didn't want Mendy to have something to wipe his face with whenever the need arises, others had different opinions but then, it was a controversy that needs to also be looked into.  But most sincerely I think Moroccans should be taught on how to be sportsmanly, they should under that in the game of football, you lose some, you win some.

No matter how we try to put it, it was a stupid and shameful act by Morocco ball boys and let’s be sincere if there is any sanction going to the Senegalese team then the Moroccan team should also be punished as well for the shameful act. They were actually taking the Towel on purpose while other people had different ideas build about this saying that they thought it contains some Voodo I am sure they know it doesn’t contain anything and that particular lie is defeated.

That Towel was actually dragged with the goalkeeper with the purpose that the goalkeeper wouldn’t have something to dry his hands with when it’s wet most especially since it was raining and this would lead to the goalkeeper having a slippery hands and technical can result into errors when the ball is shot at them. It was disgraceful seeing other players too from Morocco getting involve. But my question remains didn’t VAR spot this to call the Referee attention to it or they simply over look it yet again