Afcon 2025: Senegal are champions after final descends into chaos
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
17 Jan 2026
Afcon 2025: “Follow Morocco and Senegal and this will bring success to the continent”
Lee James and John Bennett are joined by former Tottenham and Cameroon defender Sebastien Bassong, Afcon winning Nigeria midfielder Sunday Oliseh and Moroccan football expert Amine El-Amri to preview the Africa Cup of Nations final, host's Morocco versus 2021 champions Senegal.
Plus, the team discuss the Senegalese Football Federation concerns about security and hear from Moroccan midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, head coach Walid Regragui.
01:35 Senegalese Football Federation security, accommodation and training ground concerns
07:00 Pressures of playing an ‘away’ Afcon
08:00 The best Afcon teams progressing to the knockout rounds
09:00 Morocco’s football investment
11:00 African nations following Morocco and Senegal’s lead
12:40 Impact of Afcon switching to every four years
15:45 Sunday Oliseh on Nigeria’s tournament
19:15 Tour of Rabat
25:30 Moroccan football expert Amine El-Amri on role of football in Morocco
31:00 Morocco’s aspirations to become a football superpower
33:30 Moroccan midfielder Sofyan Amrabat interview
36:30 Moroccan head coach Walid Regragui on the final
37:30 Final Predictions
16 Jan 2026
Bonus: More than the Score on Afcon
A special bonus Afcon episode from More than the Score, the BBC World Service podcast that tells stories from beyond the scoresheet. Find more by searching for More than the Score wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
This year's Africa Cup of Nations, or Afcon, has been dominated by the continent's big teams. Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen helped Nigeria and Egypt reach the semi-finals, while the likes of Achraf Hakimi and Sadio Mane will face off when hosts Morocco take on Senegal in the final.
With Africa's superstars seemingly in top form, can they keep it up at this summer's World Cup - and could an African nation finally go all the way, and win football's most famous prize?
The BBC's Lee James and John Bennett talk to African football experts Gary Al Smith and Maher Mezahi as Africa's biggest tournament nears its conclusion. Why have the stars shone at this year's Afcon, and does that bode well for the summer? How have Ghana and Cape Verde's World Cup chances been affected by missing out on Afcon? And with some of the continent's biggest names seemingly nearing the end of their international careers, who will step into their shoes?
Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl, the Australian Open to the Diamond League, and netball to Formula 1. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Ivory Coast legend Yaya Toure, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and cycling sprint king Harrie Lavreysen, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from the referees who run VAR to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.
And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore
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