In a stunning upset that silenced the home crowd at the Stade Mohammed V, the Teranga Lions of Senegal have successfully defended their title, defeating hosts Morocco 1–0 in the final of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Following the trophy presentation led by CAF President Patrice Motsepe and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the individual honours were announced. While Morocco dominated the defensive stats, it was Senegal’s resilience and clinical edge that swept the top honours.
Individual Honours
| Award | Winner | Country | Justification |
| TotalEnergies Man of the Competition | Lamine Camara | 🇸🇳 Senegal | The midfield maestro dictated the tempo of the final and was the heartbeat of the champions. |
| Golden Boot (Top Scorer) | Serhou Guirassy | 🇬🇳 Guinea | Finished with 6 goals, holding off a late charge from Morocco’s strikers. |
| Golden Glove (Best Goalkeeper) | Édouard Mendy | 🇸🇳 Senegal | Produced a “Man of the Match” performance in the final, keeping a clean sheet against the host’s onslaught. |
| Best Young Player | Amara Diouf | 🇸🇳 Senegal | The 17-year-old sensation proved why he is Africa’s next big star with 3 vital goals. |
| Coach of the Tournament | Aliou Cissé | 🇸🇳 Senegal | The tactical mastermind behind Senegal’s back-to-back African dominance. |
Team & Fair Play Awards
Fair Play Award: 🇳🇬 Nigeria, despite the physical nature of their bronze-medal win over Egypt, the Super Eagles were hailed for their professional conduct.
Team of the Tournament: To be officially released by CAF’s Technical Study Group (TSG) tomorrow, though the 11 is expected to be a battle between Senegalese grit and Moroccan flair.
Tournament Stat Leaders
Most Assists: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria), 5 Assists.
Cleanest Sheet Record: Senegal (Only 1 goal conceded in the entire knockout phase).
Winning Goal: Nicolas Jackson (Senegal), scored the decisive 82nd-minute strike in the final.
Aliou Cissé, Senegal Head Coach:
“They said it was impossible to win it twice in a row on enemy soil. But these Lions are made of different stuff. We respected Morocco, but we never feared them. This trophy is for every person in Dakar and Saint-Louis who believed in us.”
Final Standings
- Senegal (Champions – 2nd Consecutive Title)
- Morocco (Runners-up)
- Nigeria (Bronze Medalists)
- 4th Egypt
