By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
… Sadio Mane of Senegal is Player of the Tournament
THE 26-YEAR-old attacking midfielder for Real Madrid and star boy for the Atlas Lions of Morocco on Sunday night in Rabat Morocco won the Golden Boot for scoring the highest goals of five at the 35th African Cup of Nations AFCON tournament.
Legendary 33-year-old Senegalese Talisman, Sadio Mane who singularly saved the grand finale match collapsing as he persuaded his teammates from a robust experience of leadership at high level, won the Golden Ball as the Tournament Player.
Moroccan Goalkeeper who made outstanding six saves in the final to save his nation from Senegal humiliating them won the Golden Gloves for the BEST GOALKEEPER OF THE TOURNAMENT. He has the highest clean slates of not conceding a goal in five matches.
Despite outcries against host nation of intimidation, partiality and confrontation or manipulation of match officials won THE FAIR PLAY TROPHY. Despite hues and cries Morocco gave Africa the best stadium in the world with good turf to play football for which a lot of hard currencies went for it.
Football Referees and VAR officials were also decorated with FIFA President as Guest of CAF presiding.
Senegal were the kings of African football having won the Gold beating hosts Morocco to hang the Silver; Nigeria beat Egypt to win a remarkable 9 Bronze medals in the history of AFCON.
Of the 52 matches played at the tournament, 121 goals were scored for which Nigeria emerged the highest team scorers with 14 goals. A total of 1,340,022 football devotees were at the six venues while billions watched the matches on air from 170 countries of the world.
We are yet to know the hosts of the AFCON 2027 tournament, but it is likely to East Africa, but memories will linger for the Stadium in Rabat which is about the best in the world with its 69,500 capacities.
#AFCON25 #CAF #FRMF #FMF #SAFA
#FAFA #EFA #NFF.
