AFCON - The African Mirror

Jan

20

2026

Lions of Teranga Roar: Senegal’s triumphant return home

FOOTBALL

THE sky above Blaise Diagne International Airport erupted in a symphony of vuvuzelas, car horns, and unbridled joy as Senegal's triumphant squad touched down on home soil, their hands firmly gripped around the gleaming TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations trophy. What followed was a celebration that transformed the streets of Dakar into a pulsating sea of national pride - a tableau of green, yellow, and red that stretched as far as the eye could see. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye stood waiting to greet the returning champions, his words capturing the sentiment of an entire nation when he declared they had…

Jan

20

2026

By SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

FIFA unhappy, CAF threatens crackdown after chaotic scenes mar AFCON 2025 final

NEWS

AFRICAN football's governing body has condemned "unacceptable behaviour" by players and officials during Sunday's TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations final and warned of disciplinary action against those responsible for scenes that overshadowed Senegal's championship victory. The Confederation of African Football said it is reviewing footage of the match between Senegal and Morocco, which was brought to a halt after Senegal's players walked off the pitch in protest over a disputed penalty decision. FIFA president Gianni Infantino joined the condemnation, describing the incident as a stain on what should have been a celebration of African football. FIFA president Gianni Infantino. "We…

Jan

20

2026

By OWN CORRESPONDENT

The lion who refused to walk away: Sadio Mané’s glorious farewell

FOOTBALL

THEY say legends are born in moments of crisis. On a chaotic Sunday evening in Morocco, as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final threatened to descend into farce, Sadio Mané proved he was born for precisely such a moment. Picture the scene: the 98th minute, a contentious penalty awarded to the host nation, and Senegal's coaching staff making the extraordinary decision to march their players off the pitch in protest. The changing room doors closed. The world watched in disbelief. African football teetered on the edge of an abyss that would have scarred the beautiful game for generations. Then…

Jan

19

2026

By JOVIAL RANTAO

Senegal stage theatrical walk-off before snatching AFCON glory in Rabat riot

FOOTBALL

THEY say you should always leave your audience wanting more. Senegal took that advice literally on Sunday night - they left the pitch entirely, wandered off toward the dressing rooms, and nearly didn't come back. Welcome to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final: a spectacular triumph of skill, drama, and absolute bedlam that had everything except common sense and a smooth ending. ACT ONE: THE GREAT VANISHING Let's set the scene. It's deep into stoppage time at Rabat's Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. Morocco, chasing their first continental crown in half a century, have just been awarded a penalty after…

Jan

15

2026

By The African Mirror

TOTAL ENERGIES AFCON 2025: Atlas Lions claw their way to AFCON final in nerve-shredding penalty drama

FOOTBALL

IN a match that had everything except goals, Morocco scraped through to their first Africa Cup of Nations final in 21 years after edging Nigeria 4-2 on penalties following 120 minutes of football that will have had cardiologists across the continent reaching for their prescription pads. The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium erupted into absolute bedlam as Youssef En-Nesyri – ice in his veins, thunder in his boots – smashed home the decisive penalty to send the Atlas Lions into Sunday's final. Cue pandemonium. Cue tears. Cue scenes that will be replayed in Moroccan cafes until the sun burns out. For…

Jan

15

2026

By SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

TOTAL ENERGIES AFCON 2025: When Lions devoured Pharaohs: A Moroccan night for the ages

FOOTBALL

IN the amphitheatre of the Tangier Grand Stadium, where the Mediterranean winds carry whispers of ancient rivalries, the Lions of Teranga proved once again that in football's grand theatre, it's not the pyramids that stand tallest, but those who dare to roar loudest. This wasn't just a semi-final. This was a clash of titans, a collision of dynasties, a battle royale where two of Africa's footballing superpowers - bristling with some of the continent's and the world's finest talents - locked horns in a supremely technical, heart-pounding spectacle that had everything except Egyptian resistance. On one side: Senegal, the reigning…

Jan

12

2026

By SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Home cooking at its finest: African gaffers serve up another helping of AFCON glory

FOOTBALL

RIGHT then, gather 'round for a delicious slice of footballing irony: the continent that was once told it needed "European expertise" to win its own tournament has just served up four semi-finalists all managed by - wait for it - Africans. Shocking, isn't it? Well, not really. Not anymore. AFCON 2025 has guaranteed us a fourth consecutive homegrown champion, and honestly, at this point, we should probably just make it official policy. Why mess with a winning formula? The pattern is clearer than a Casablanca sky in summer: Djamel Belmadi's Algeria in 2019, Aliou Cissé's Senegal breakthrough in 2021, and…

Jan

13

2026

By SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

High-stakes showdown: billionaire’s million-dollar promise fuels Super Eagles’ AFCON dream

NEWS

NIGERIAN industrialist Abdul Samad Rabiu has thrown down a financial gauntlet that could transform Wednesday's AFCON semi-final into the most lucrative 90 minutes in Super Eagles history. In a bold declaration of faith that has sent shockwaves through African football, Rabiu has pledged a staggering $500,000 to Nigeria's squad if they overcome hosts Morocco in Rabat, with an additional $50,000 bonus for every goal that ripples the Atlas Lions' net. The stakes climb even higher should the Eagles soar to continental glory - a cool $1 million awaits the champions, supplemented by $100,000 per goal in the final. This extraordinary…

Jan

11

2026

By The African Mirror

The Pharaohs’ Heist: How Egypt pinched victory from the jaws of Ivorian domination

FOOTBALL

IN what can only be described as football's version of a perfectly executed smash-and-grab, Egypt have somehow, someway, managed to knock out the defending champions Côte d'Ivoire 3-2 in a quarter-final that had everything except Egyptian possession of the ball. Picture this: The Elephants stampeding forward, wave after relentless wave. The Pharaohs crouching in their box, waiting. Waiting. Then - BANG! Counter-attack. Goal. Repeat as necessary. It's the tactical equivalent of a chess grandmaster losing to someone who only knows how to flip the board over. The Marmoush Express Departs Early Four minutes. Four minutes. That's all it took for…

Jan

11

2026

By The African Mirror

THE OSIMHEN SHOW: Super Eagles spread their wings as Desert Fennecs fade into the Sahara sand

FOOTBALL

WELL, well, well. If you blinked during the second half, you missed Victor Osimhen doing what Victor Osimhen does best - turning defensive nightmares into highlight reels and Algerian hopes into dust particles floating sadly in the North African breeze. For forty-five agonizing minutes, this quarterfinal clash was tighter than a miser's wallet. Algeria, marshaling their forces like generals defending the last oasis, threw up a midfield wall that would make Hadrian jealous. The Fennecs snarled and snapped, containing the Nigerian triumvirate of terror - Osimhen, Akor Adams, and the ever-menacing Ademola Lookman - who prowled the penalty area like…