By Kunle Solaja, who was in Morocco

The Tunisian Football Federation (TFF) has formally congratulated Morocco on what it described as the outstanding organisational success of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, praising the host nation for setting new standards in the staging of major football events on the continent.

In a letter dated January 22, 2026, and addressed to the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), Fouzi Lekjaa, the TFF commended Morocco’s professionalism, infrastructure and hospitality throughout the tournament.

Signed by TFF President Moez Nasri and Vice-President in charge of relations with international bodies, Hussein Jenayah, the letter conveyed the appreciation of the Tunisian football family to their Moroccan counterparts.

The letter from the Tunisian Football Federation (TFF)

“The sisterly Kingdom of Morocco has once again demonstrated high professional capabilities and global standards in hosting major events, which honours both African and Arab football alike,” the federation stated.

The Tunisian FA also expressed gratitude for the warm reception and generous hospitality extended to the Tunisian delegation during the competition, noting that the level of care and comfort provided reflected the well-known generosity of the Moroccan people.

According to the TFF, the successful organisation of AFCON 2025 was the product of strategic vision and sustained investment in sports infrastructure, which it said has positioned Morocco as a benchmark host nation on the continent.

“This excellence in organisation reflects your wise vision and the massive efforts you have made to develop the sports infrastructure in your country, making this edition a shining milestone in the history of the continent,” the letter added.

The federation concluded by wishing Moroccan football continued success and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation and brotherly relations between the two national associations, in the interest of football development in both countries.

AFCON 2025, hosted across multiple Moroccan cities, has drawn widespread acclaim from participating teams, officials and observers, with Morocco’s organisational capacity now being cited as a reference point for future continental and global tournaments.

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Pressure is mounting on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to take decisive action following what many observers have described as a bizarre and deeply controversial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final between Senegal and hosts Morocco on Sunday.

While Senegal emerged as champions on the pitch, the aftermath of the final has been dominated by debate, outrage and sharply divided opinions—particularly in sections of the British media—over the conduct of the match, the behaviour of key actors, and the wider implications for African football.

One of the strongest reactions came from Jeremy Cross, a columnist with the UK’s Daily Star, who called for unprecedented sanctions in a scathing post-final commentary.

“Senegal must be made to forfeit the AFCON trophy to Morocco, and Pape Thiaw should receive a lifetime ban,” Cross wrote, arguing that CAF must act “for the sake of football’s respect and reputation.” In his column, Cross insisted that stripping Senegal of the title and awarding it to Morocco would send a clear message that misconduct at the highest level of the game would not be tolerated.

The call has added to growing external pressure on CAF, which is already reviewing reports from match officials and its disciplinary bodies following incidents that overshadowed what should have been a celebration of African football’s flagship event.

However, not all British voices have aligned with the punitive narrative. Renowned UK sports journalist Darren Lewis offered a sharply contrasting perspective, warning against what he described as a familiar and unfair framing of African football.

“We need to stop pushing the lazy narrative that what happened at the AFCON final is somehow a stain on all of African football,” Lewis argued.

Drawing comparisons with major incidents in European football, Lewis highlighted what he sees as a troubling double standard. He pointed to the violence and vandalism by England fans at Wembley after the Euro 2020 final, which was not portrayed as a failure of European football. He referenced the Calciopoli scandal in Italy, which exposed systemic corruption and led to Juventus’ relegation, yet did not delegitimise European club football as a whole. He also recalled Sheffield United walking off the pitch under Steve Bruce during an FA Cup tie against Arsenal—an episode never used to indict English football’s credibility.

“Same game. Same problems. Different judgment,” Lewis said. “AFCON isn’t the problem. The bias is.”

His intervention has resonated with many African football stakeholders who argue that while Sunday’s final raised legitimate concerns that CAF must address, it should not be weaponised to undermine the tournament or African football as a whole.

Within Africa, the focus remains firmly on CAF’s response. Observers expect the continental body to demonstrate firmness and transparency, whether through disciplinary measures, procedural reforms, or public clarification, to protect the integrity of its competitions. At the same time, there is growing insistence that accountability must be balanced with fairness, and that African football should not be held to harsher standards than its European counterparts.

As CAF deliberates, the AFCON final continues to reverberate beyond the trophy presentation. What was meant to be a showcase of African excellence has become a flashpoint in a wider debate about governance, perception and respect. How CAF responds may not only determine the fate of the final itself, but also shape how African football asserts its credibility on the global stage

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As the lights dimmed on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Goldberg Lager Beer also drew the curtain on its AFCON journey not with disappointment, but with pride, gratitude and a strengthened belief in the future of Nigerian football.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles ended their campaign on the podium, claiming the bronze medal after edging Egypt on penalties in the third-place match. It was Nigeria’s ninth third-place finish at the AFCON finals. It is a record that further underlines the country’s reputation as the most consistent team in the history of the competition, with more podium appearances than any other African nation.

The ultimate target was a fourth continental crown, but that remained just out of reach. But for Goldberg, AFCON 2025 was never a story defined solely by silverware. It was a narrative of character, resilience and the enduring relationship between the national team and its vast, passionate support base.

Football, culture and a shared rhythm

Driven by its “Our Beat, Our Gold” campaign, Goldberg Lager Beer followed the Super Eagles throughout the tournament, turning AFCON 2025 into a shared national experience. Across Nigeria, viewing centres and cultural activations transformed match days into communal festivals of colour, sound and emotion. Beyond the country’s borders, fan-engagement activities in Moroccan host cities ensured that Nigeria’s green-and-white presence travelled with the team.

The Nigerian Breweries team, led by Head of Marketing Communications, Sandra Amachree, and Senior Brand Manager, Goldberg Lager Beer, Kunle Aroyehun, pose with brand influencers Broda Shaggi, Shaffy Bello and others during one of Goldberg’s numerous fan-engagement activities at the recently concluded AFCON 2025 in Rabat, Morocco.

On the pitch, the Super Eagles matched that energy with an expressive and confident brand of football. Nigeria finished as the tournament’s most prolific attacking side, scoring 14 goals—more than any other team. They created the highest number of clear chances (27), dominated possession with an average of 66 per cent, and recorded the longest winning run of the competition with five consecutive victories.

To Goldberg, those numbers spoke to something deeper than results alone: belief, progress and intent.

Beyond the scoreboard

Reflecting on the campaign, Laolu Babalola, Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager Brands at Nigerian Breweries Plc, said AFCON 2025 was about more than wins and losses.

“We set out believing in gold, and while the final prize did not come, the journey mattered,” Babalola said. “The Super Eagles played with confidence and purpose, and the fans responded with passion and loyalty. That connection is what this campaign was built around.”

Kunle Aroyehun, Senior Brand Manager, Goldberg, described the close of the tournament not as an ending, but as a moment of reflection.

“Our Beat, Our Gold was about how Nigerian’s experience football together,” he said. “From the first match to the last, the fans showed up with energy, belief and pride. The bronze medal adds to Nigeria’s rich AFCON history, but more importantly, it highlighted the strength of our football culture.”

Aroyehun reaffirmed Goldberg’s long-term commitment to the game and its supporters. “This campaign may be ending, but the rhythm continues. As long as Nigerians are watching football, debating, celebrating and believing, Goldberg will continue to stand with them.”

As AFCON 2025 slips into memory, Goldberg insists that what truly endures are the shared moments—the cheers, the drums, the conversations and the collective belief. In the final analysis, that spirit, the brand maintains, remains the real gold.

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