AFCON Awards: Mane leads Senegal success, Brahim’s blunder | OneFootball

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations concluded this weekend in a final few will forget.

Senegal’s success over Morocco was littered with controversy, as the Lions of Teranga took home the continental title for a second time. For host nation Morocco, their 50-year wait for AFCON success goes on after the most dramatic of near-misses in Rabat.

Following the conclusion of the tournament, it’s time to dish out our AFCON awards.

Moment of the Tournament

Really, there can only be one. Have we ever seen an end to a major final like this?

A tense final appeared to be heading for extra time after a hard-fought stalemate in Rabat, only for two refereeing decision to flip the script. First, Senegal saw a 91st-minute opener disallowed, as Abdoulaye Seck was penalised for a clash with Achraf Hakimi in the build-up. The replays suggested Hakimi had made the most of minimal contact with Senegal furious.

Senegal’s anger exploded four minutes later, as Morocco were awarded a penalty. Another fairly innocuous clash saw Brahim Diaz fall to the floor in the box, with El Hadji Malick Diouf the guilty party. VAR urged the referee to take another look, and a penalty given.

A stunned Senegal side confronted the official, before incredibly leaving the pitch in protest. Urged by head coach Pape Thiaw, the majority of the side headed down the tunnel. It threatened to be a shameful end to the tournament, but Sadio Mane urged his side back to the field. What followed was extraordinary, as Brahim Diaz missed the penalty after a 24-minute delay.

The tournament’s leading scorer, inexplicably, attempted a Panenka. Edouard Mendy saw it coming.

Morocco’s momentum evaporated, as Senegal stormed to an extra time win. A distraught Diaz was substituted early in the added period, having struggled to recover from a miss that will haunt him for a long time to come.

It was the moment of the tournament, by a distance.

Player of the Tournament

Diaz’s dreadful penalty perhaps prevented Morocco’s talisman from claiming this award. The tournament’s leading scorer has carried The Atlas Lions through to the final, but will forever be associated with his costly miss.

Sadio Mane was named the official Player of the Tournament and it’s an accolade that’s difficult to disagree with. Mane scored twice – including the semi-final winner against Egypt – and created three more, while his influence was stamped on Senegal’s final winner and decision to return to the pitch.

The 33-year-old has not always commanded the headlines, but now boasts a résumé that stacks up with any African footballer in history. The two-time African Footballer of the Year is now a double AFCON champion and two-time Player of the Tournament.

Best Young Player

Ibrahim Maza entered the tournament as one to watch and lived up to that billing. The 20-year-old had started to find his feet at Bayer Leverkusen in the run-up to AFCON, providing six goals and assists in eight games prior to the finals.

The summer signing from Hertha Berlin kept that form going on international duty. He started the tournament from the bench, but made an immediate impact with a goal as a substitute in the opening win over Sudan.

Having earned a starting role, a man-of-the-match performance helped Algeria past Burkina Faso, before the 20-year-old recorded a goal and assist in the final group game against Equatorial Guinea.

Algeria’s run ended in the quarter-finals against Nigeria, but Maza has shown he could be the heir to Riyad Mahrez for the national team.

Best Goal

Ayoub El Kaabi has mastered the art of the overhead kick.

The Moroccan’s acrobatic efforts have become a trademark, including scoring two overhead kicks in just three group games at AFCON. El Kaabi’s first of the tournament earns our Best Goal award, a sublime strike from the Olympiacos goal-getter.

Best Game

Holders Ivory Coast staged a late fightback to beat Gabon in a five-goal group-stage thriller.

The Elephants were 2-0 down inside 21 minutes to already-eliminated Gabon in their final group game, as goals from Guelor Kanga and Denis Bouanga threatened an upset.

Jean-Philippe Krasso pulled one back before half-time with a tap-in, but the Ivorians struggled to create chances in the second half. With six minutes to go, Evann Guessand’s equaliser changed the momentum.

The Aston Villa forward headed in from a set piece, setting up a frantic finish. In first-half stoppage time, Bazoumana Toure’s diving header sent the Ivory Coast through as group winners.

Read – Six Premier League stars celebrate AFCON success with Senegal

See more – Premier League Team of the Week – Sanchez, Casemiro, Barry

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