07 May AFCON 2025: The Beautiful Game
I have some thoughts about last night’s AFCON 2025 final between Senegal & the host country, Morocco.
Historically, I’ve been a passive consumer of football, although this has changed somewhat since I met my partner who’s a loyal Arsenal supporter. Now, I’m playing more of an active role by having actual opinions & developing a better understanding of how the whole thing works. Apart from the offside rule, which continues to be my nemesis.
I didn’t tune into any of the AFCON matches until Nigeria made it to the semi-finals & when the Super Eagles lost the match on penalties to Morocco, I lost interest. Then, surprisingly, I found myself watching the tussle for 3rd place between my country & Egypt, which we won. Then, even more surprisingly, I set a reminder for the final between Morocco & Senegal. I told myself I would watch the first half & then go to bed, because I had work the next day.
Well, let’s just say it didn’t work out as planned. For one thing, the first half ended in 0-0, which is always unsatisfying. So, I called my partner during half-time to check on him & analyse the first half (who have I become?). The second half began & it became clear that Morocco was determined to win by any means necessary. Understandable, since they were playing in front of a home crowd & in their capital city, Rabat.
The drama began in earnest. Senegal scored, but it was disallowed. Senegalese players & fans became angry; the atmosphere became chaotic. Play proceeded. An in-game scuffle happened near the goal box & Morocco was awarded a hotly disputed penalty, which the player, Brahim Díaz, unbelievably missed with a badly judged Panenka. The ball went straight into the goalkeeper’s hands. Then, Senegal scored. Pape Gueye has written his name in the history books with that goal. Morocco failed to equalise & that was that. Celebrations ensued.
I found myself unaccountably misty-eyed & as I prepared for bed, I sought to understand why. For one thing, it was nice to see a West African country win AFCON. The region has been going through tough times recently & this gives us a reason to smile. For another, after reading & watching what was going on in the stadium during the tense match, it became apparent that the host country wasn’t being gentlemanly. There’s footage of Moroccan ball boys & officials attempting to take the Senegalese goalkeeper’s towels, which they use to keep their gloves dry, so the ball doesn’t slide out of their hands when they catch it. In other words, sabotage. I find this behaviour appalling & the Confederation of African Football (CAF) must address it.
Now, it’s the morning after the night before & I’ve uncharacteristically gone out of my way to seek out posts & videos about last night’s AFCON final, purely out of curiosity. I think I finally see what all the fuss is about when it comes to football. It encompasses geopolitics, human psychology, the creation & dispersal of intense emotions & it brings people together. A beautiful game indeed.
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