AFCON Comes to Thrilling Close - 3 Winners and 3 Losers After Action Ends in Morocco
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AFCON Comes to Thrilling Close - 3 Winners and 3 Losers After Action Ends in Morocco

AFCON Comes to Thrilling Close - 3 Winners and 3 Losers After Action Ends in Morocco

AFCON 2026 signed off in pure chaos on Sunday night, as the Lions of Teranga roared their way to a historic second title. Senegal didn’t just win it, they survived one of the most jaw-dropping finals football has ever produced, a night that will be replayed for years.

But today isn’t about the trophy lift. It’s about the real winners and losers of the tournament. From unforgettable crowd moments to moments the streets won't forget, here are the 3 biggest winners and 3 biggest losers of AFCON 2026.

Winner #1 - Sadio Mané

The biggest winner of the AFCON was undoubtably the Senegalese winger. Captaining the side, he led them to their second ever AFCON title.

Racking up 5 goals and assists throughout the tournament, Mané led by example from start to finish, and now he sits at the very top of African football as one of the greatest to ever play in the continent.

2x AFCONs, 1x UEFA Champions League, 1x Super Cup, 1x Premier League, 1x FA Cup, 1x Carabao Cup, and 1x Bundesliga, there really cannot be too much space left in the man's trophy cabinet at this point! In addition to all this, the 33-year old also boasts a second place finish in the Ballon D'or.

Some winner.

Winner #2 - Kuka Muladinga, the Congolese Statue

Kuka Muladinga became an unexpected global icon at AFCON 2026, stealing the spotlight with one of the tournament’s most unforgettable fan moments. In a vow of total silence, he stood motionless in the stands, recreating the famous pose of DR Congo’s first Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba, a powerful tribute that turned a football crowd into something far bigger than sport.

That’s what AFCON does best. It’s not just a tournament of goals and trophies, but it’s a celebration of African identity, pride, history, and culture. Every chant, every flag, every heartbeat in the stands means something.

Sadly for Muladinga, DR Congo’s journey ended in the Round of 16. But with World Cup qualifiers looming, don’t be surprised if the statue returns.

Winner #3 - Mamadou Sarr

After minimal appearances for Senegal throughout the tournament, a suspension to veteran centre back Kalidou Koulibaly meant that 20-year old Mamadou Sarr was brought into the starting lineup for the final.

Mamadou Sarr’s rise has been rapid, and it’s only just beginning. Signed by Strasbourg in the summer of 2024 from Lyon, the teenage defender quickly became another exciting prospect on a pathway that’s turning heads across Europe. Like many of Strasbourg’s brightest talents, Sarr soon found himself heading to Chelsea, where he played his part in the club’s Club World Cup triumph over the summer. Another loan move back to Strasbourg followed this season, keeping his development on track and his reputation growing with every appearance. Then came the biggest decision of all, after representing France at U19 level, Sarr made the switch to Senegal. Following in his father's footsteps, this was a bold move that could see him become a key name in the Lions of Teranga’s next generation.

His final was immense, and he turned heads worldwide. Standing tall next to the experienced Moussa Niakhate, Sarr boasted calmness on the ball and solidity in his challenges. On top of his immaculate performance in the final, Senegal did not concede a goal any time the defender was on the field throughout the duration of the tournament.

Mamadou Sarr, remember the name.

Loser #1 - Mohamed Salah

Sorry Mo, but this time we cannot sing your praises.

After a turbulent start to the season with Liverpool which saw Mohamed Salah dropped to the bench after a dispute with manager Arne Slot and the rest of the Liverpool squad, Salah set out on a mission to try and bring glory to Egypt.

Unfortunately for Salah, his efforts were not enough, as he led his team to failure once more against Senegal, this time in the semi-finals. To rub further salt into the wounds, many believe that it may have been Salah's last tournament. Not the best way to bow out.

Loser #2 - Bafana Bafana

After a fantastic display in the last AFCON, finishing 3rd in the competition, South Africa were looking like a footballing nation reborn. Following on from their impressive AFCON displays in 2023, the side went on to qualify for their first World Cup since 2010. On top of this, Bafana boasted one of the longest unbeaten streaks in international football going into AFCON.

The group stage was shaky for South Africa, beginning with an uninspiring win against Angola. Their second game saw them lose narrowly to Egypt, and their third game was another narrow win against Zimbabwe.

Moving on to the knockouts, South Africa failed to get past the Round of 16, losing 2-1 to Cameroon due to some calamitous defensive displays. Some say it was down to poor squad selection, others put it down to bad luck, but either way, Bafana Bafana failed to meet expectations in the AFCON.

Loser #3 - Morocco

After a fantastic tournament, hosts Morocco reached the final of the AFCON, hunting their first title in 50 years. With the weight of the home crowd on their shoulders, the side crumbled at the biggest hurdle.

Losing 1-0, the performance from Morocco was not the biggest failure, however their actions during and after the game were the moments that truly encapsulated their failures. Throughout the tournament, there had been allegations that referee calls were fixed to help Morocco, and in all honesty, they didn't really help their case with their behaviour in the final.

Despite the commotion in the lead up to the penalty, Morocco were not painting themselves in the best light at all, with their ball-boys opting for an extremely unsportsmanlike approach that does not encapsulate the spirit of AFCON.

Sore losers? We think so. The way Morocco acted towards the end put a dim light on what had been a truly fantastic tournament. While the Senegalese team's actions were unacceptable, Morocco's response was not justified.

Closing Remarks

There you have it, what a tournament!

Sadly, we'll have to wait another 4 years for the next one due to the new changes within the CAF Federations, yet the CAF Nations League is not far away!

See you in 4 years for more AFCON madness.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist

Arthur Turner

EFL Transfer and News Writer

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