The curtain fell on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat with Senegal crowned champions, but the awards ceremony that followed sparked significant debate across Nigeria. Despite a commendable third-place finish, the Super Eagles and their star attackers were completely overlooked in the individual honours, a decision that has left many fans and pundits questioning the selection criteria.
Senegal Clinches Title in Dramatic Final
The tournament concluded on Sunday, January 19, 2026, with a tense final between Senegal and host nation Morocco. After a goalless 90 minutes, Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal in the 94th minute to secure a 1-0 extra-time victory for the Teranga Lions. The match was not without controversy, featuring a late VAR-reviewed penalty for Morocco and a crucial save by Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy from Brahim Díaz's Panenka attempt.
This victory marked Senegal's second continental title, cementing their status as a African football powerhouse. Morocco, as runners-up, and Nigeria, in third place, completed the podium for AFCON 2025.
Individual Award Winners Dominated by Finalists
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) presented its major individual awards, heavily favouring the two finalist teams.
Sadio Mane was named the Player of the Tournament (Golden Ball), capping a commanding campaign where his leadership and pivotal performances were instrumental in Senegal's success. Morocco's shot-stopper, Yassine Bounou, took home the Best Goalkeeper award for his series of match-saving displays throughout the competition.
In a historic achievement, Morocco's Brahim Díaz won the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer with five goals. He became the first player ever to score in five consecutive matches at a single AFCON edition. The Fair Play Award was also given to the Moroccan national team for their discipline.
Nigeria's Notable Omission Sparks Debate
The most contentious talking point emerged from Nigeria's total absence from the awards list. The Super Eagles were the highest-scoring team of the tournament, yet none of their players received recognition.
Forward Ademola Lookman was directly involved in seven goals, scoring three and providing four assists. Star striker Victor Osimhen, a former African Footballer of the Year, also impressed with six goal contributions. Despite these impactful statistics, both were overlooked for the major individual prizes.
This snub has led to widespread discussion within the Nigerian football community, with many arguing that the team's overall performance and offensive output deserved at least some acknowledgement in the awards ceremony.
The 2025 AFCON will be remembered for Senegal's triumph and Morocco's valiant effort as hosts, but also for the puzzling exclusion of Nigeria's key players from the honours list, leaving a bittersweet taste after the Super Eagles' otherwise strong campaign.
