By Kunle Solaja, Casablanca

Nigeria’s bronze medal triumph at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco owed much to Stanley Nwabali. The Super Eagles’ goalkeeper turned himself into a fortress, stringing together four successive clean sheets and going an astonishing 458 minutes without conceding a goal.

From Group Stage Setback to Redemption

Nwabali’s last concession came in the group stage when Uganda’s Roger Mato scored a freak goal 15 minutes from time in Nigeria’s 3-1 victory. Since then, the Chippa United shot-stopper shut the door on every opponent, displaying composure, reflexes, and leadership that inspired confidence in the Nigerian backline.

His performances became the backbone of Nigeria’s resurgence after the disappointment of missing out on the final. In the bronze medal match against Egypt at Casablanca’s Stade Mohamed V, Nwabali was once again unyielding. He denied Trezeguet early on, reacted sharply to Salah’s runs, and commanded his area with authority.

The classification match ended goalless, but Nwabali’s interventions ensured Nigeria stayed alive. When the contest went to penalties, he radiated calmness, setting the tone for the Super Eagles’ 4-2 shoot-out victory. His saves and presence rattled Egypt’s stars, with Salah and Marmoush both failing to convert.

For his commanding display, Nwabali was deservedly named Man of the Match, a recognition of his consistency and resilience throughout the tournament.

Nwabali’s new form is symbolic of Nigeria’s evolving football narrative. Long haunted by penalty shoot-out misfortunes and defensive lapses, the Super Eagles found in him a reliable guardian who thrives under pressure. His clean-sheet streak not only secured Nigeria a podium finish but also restored pride in the team’s defensive discipline.

As AFCON 2025 fades into history, Nwabali’s name will be remembered alongside Nigeria’s great goalkeepers.

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When Morocco and Senegal step onto the pitch to contest the final of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, more than a continental title will be at stake. Beyond the prestige of the fixture and the magnitude of the occasion, another, subtler yet equally significant story will unfold — that of the African Nations Championship (CHAN).

Long regarded as a developmental competition, the CHAN has gradually evolved into a true breeding ground for elite African football. The Morocco–Senegal final, scheduled for Sunday 18 January, bears the deep imprint of that journey. Several of the key figures in this decisive encounter first shaped their character, built their reputations, and launched their rise to the summit of African football through the CHAN.

Ayoub El Kaabi, the ultimate symbol

It is impossible to tell this story without starting with Ayoub El Kaabi. The Moroccan striker is, in many ways, a living legend of the CHAN. A two-time winner of the competition in 2018 and 2020, he is also its all-time leading scorer with nine goals.

Revealed to a wider audience during the 2018 edition, where he dominated the tournament, El Kaabi embodied the ideal pathway from domestic football to the highest international level. His presence in the AFCON 2025 final is a powerful reminder that the CHAN is not an end in itself, but a launching pad. Now Morocco’s leading attacking figure, he remains the clearest testament to the quality and potential of African domestic football.

Soufiane Rahimi, excellence rewarded

Alongside him, Soufiane Rahimi represents another Moroccan success story forged at the CHAN. During the 2020 edition, he excelled across the tournament, claiming both the Best Player award and the Golden Boot with five goals.

His ability to shine in decisive moments, his football intelligence, and his strong sense of collective play left a lasting impression. In the AFCON 2025 final, Rahimi returns to a stage he knows well — one where talent alone is not enough, and where the capacity to deliver when history is being written truly matters.

A Moroccan core shaped by the CHAN

The depth of this Moroccan lineage is also evident in defence. Nayef Aguerd, who featured at the 2018 CHAN, learned the demands of top-level continental football there before establishing himself as one of Africa’s most reliable central defenders.

Alongside him, Jawad El Yamiq, another CHAN product, embodies the continuity of a Moroccan model built on development, internal progression, and the promotion of local talent.

More recently, El Mehdi Al Harrar, a winner of the CHAN 2025, continues this tradition. His inclusion in the AFCON finalist squad underlines Morocco’s view of the CHAN not as a secondary competition, but as a strategic pillar of its football project.

Lamine Camara, Senegal’s rising gem

On the Senegalese side, the CHAN has also played a key role in the emergence of talents destined for the long term. Lamine Camara, winner of the CHAN 2022, was named Man of the Match in the final after impressing with his maturity, technical precision, and early leadership.

Seeing him contest an AFCON final today is a natural progression. Like Morocco, Senegal has successfully used the CHAN as a platform to identify, refine, and prepare players capable of stepping up to the continental elite.

Pape Thiaw, a coach bridging two worlds

The CHAN’s influence on this final is not limited to the players. It is also evident on the touchline. Pape Thiaw makes history as the first coach to reach a CHAN final and an AFCON final.

This unique journey perfectly illustrates the complementarity between the two competitions. The Senegalese coach has successfully transferred the discipline, collective spirit, and high standards of the CHAN to Africa’s highest level. His path highlights a reality often overlooked: the CHAN is also a vital development platform for coaches — a space for tactical, managerial, and human growth.

-Cafonline

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The Confederation of African Football could have done a better job of explaining its decision to move the Africa Cup of Nations from every two to four years but was standing by it, the organisation’s president Patrice Motsepe said on Saturday.

The decision was announced last month and drew heavy criticism, with several African football personalities alleging it was a measure forced upon Africa by FIFA, whose president Gianni Infantino had six years ago advocated that the Cup of Nations be played four-yearly rather than every two years.

Motsepe rejected the assertions of undue influence from Zurich and said they would go ahead with the Cup of Nations every four years after 2028, plus introduce an African Nations League in 2029.

“We didn’t do as good a job at CAF in preparing the ground for this Afcon every four years. We must make sure that our everyday people, who we account to, must understand what we have done is good for them,” Motsepe told a press conference on the eve of the final between Morocco and Senegal in Rabat.

“This is the right decision. We will indeed have a new competition, and it will be enormously successful. African football will be better,” he added.

“We must free ourselves as Africans and have more confidence in ourselves. It should not be about FIFA says this or UEFA says this. We can be convinced we are doing the right things, but it is important everyone on the continent is convinced we are doing the right things too. We have to educate our people on the decisions we have taken. We know that in two, three years people will see what we are talking about.”

The reason Africa has held its Cup of Nations every two years while other confederations play their championship every four years is because the tournament’s revenue used to provide around 80% of CAF’s budget.

However Motsepe said: “The revenue of the Afcon is significantly less than the revenue we have implemented for the African Nations League. We are absolutely convinced it will work.”

-Reuters

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