Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
THE dust has settled in Rabat and the confetti cleared, but the impact of Senegal’s triumph continues to reverberate across African football.
Their narrow one-nil victory over hosts Morocco was more than just a final scoreline; it signalled a renewed assertion of West African dominance at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Forty-eight hours after the final whistle, celebrations remain in full swing in Dakar, as Senegal savours a moment that has reshaped the continental football landscape.
For much of the continent, focus has already shifted to tough questions and corresponding answers.
Senegal’s takedown of Morocco did not just crown champions, it completed a statistical takeover.
Since the first AFCON in 1957, staged in Sudan and won by Egypt, 34 tournaments have been staged.
Seventeen of them have been won by West African nations.
In simple terms, for every two AFCON tournaments held, a West African captain has lifted the trophy.
This is not a lucky run; it is a dynasty.
The pedigree is clear: Cameroon’s five titles, Ghana’s four, Nigeria’s and Côte d’Ivoire with three apiece.
Senegal has now added a second, confirming that their 2021 success was not a fluke but the beginning of an era.
Elsewhere, the gap remains stark.
North Africa has claimed eleven titles, heavily shaped by Egypt’s record seven.
Central Africa accounts for three trophies, Southern Africa just two, while East Africa has only one.
While others search for a way onto the podium, West Africa continues to operate on a different frequency.
AFCON 2025 made that obvious.
The quarter-finals resembled a West African invitational, with Senegal, Mali, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon all muscling their way into the decisive stages.
This dominance is not built on flair alone.
Academies in Dakar, Abidjan and Lagos, among others, have become production lines, supplying players hardened by competition long before they reach Europe’s elite leagues.
The 2025 AFCON may be over, but the message is unmistakable.
If Africa wants the crown, the road still runs through the West, and right now, that wall looks higher than ever.
