Beyond the 2026 AFCON Final: 5 Cinematic Post-Credit Scenes

As we draw the curtains on AFCON 2026, here are five moments that have made life after the finals feel cinematic. 

We’re more than halfway to a week since Senegal won the 2026 African Cup of Nations. To say the competition was anything short of a cinematic masterpiece would be distorting the truth. Protagonists, villains, plot twists, colourful costumes, and ensemble performances all combined, culminating in one of the most interesting male football finals in recent history. Even now, as the end credits roll, there’s a lot of drama ahead of the World Cup in July and next-year’s AFCON in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Unfinished business for some footballing federations and the pursuit of redemption for others. 

Without further ado, here are five 2026 AFCON post-credits moments we’ve observed and that are still unfolding: 

1. Senegal’s Victory Parade and Cash and Land Rewards: 

The Senegal team celebrate a hard-fought AFCON win in Dakar. 

Winning the most coveted football prize in Africa is good. Winning it twice in 3 editions, in as dramatic a fashion as with a 94th minute screamer is arguably better. But you know what makes it the best? The reception from your country men and women, celebrating a generational feat. On Tuesday, the Teranga Lions wove through the nation’s capital, Dakar, from the Patte d’Oie neighbourhood to the Presidential Palace, with fans coming along for all seven hours of the trip. Videos of captain Sadio Mane interacting with fans almost immediately took over social media. 

At the Presidential Palace, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced that each player would receive 75 million CFA Francs (115,000 Euros) and 1,500 square meter plots in the Petite-Côte area of the Senegalese coastline. Additionally, 305 Million Francs was awarded to the Ministry of Sports, and the rank of Commanders of the National Order of the Lion, Senegal’s highest national honour, bestowed on head coach Pape Thiaw and the entire squad. That’s one heaven of a celebration, if you ask us. 

2. Nigeria, Senegal, and Morocco Dominate Team of the Tournament: 

The Official Team of the Tournament. Credit: CAF Total AFCON on X

Think of this like if the awards season in film and TV was more staggered, with some awards given almost immediately after films hit the cinemas. The Team of the Tournament was officially released on Wednesday and as expected certain countries were well represented. Nigeria had 3 players (Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Calvin Bassey), Senegal had 4 players (Sadio Mane, Papa Gueye, Idrissa Gueye, and Moussa Niakhate), while Morocco had 4 players (Brahim Diaz, Achraf Hakimi, Yassine Bono, and Noussair Mazraoui). 

There have been comments about the exclusion of Nigeria’s Alex Iwobi, similar to the drama surrounding some of our favorite Black films during this Awards season (Did somebody say “Sinners”?). 

3. Sanctions and Probes: 

It’s not all laughs, though. Following Senegal’s bizarre decision to walk off the pitch in protest of the referee’s questionable calls, there have been repercussions, some of which could potentially harm their World Cup run this summer. For starters, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is set to suspend Coach Pape Thiaw. An investigation has also been launched into the actions of the team, ‘with appropriate action to be taken against those found guilty”. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has also criticized the conduct during the final. 

Per CAF’s rules, and precedents in other competitions, consequences could be as far reaching as suspensions for players participating at the World Cup, or handing the trophy to Morocco instead — since technically, storming off the pitch counts as a forfeit. This outcome would surely be to the ire of fans across the globe. 

4. Players Returning to their Football Clubs:

Clubs have taken extra steps to celebrate their African stars in a variety of gestures ranging from elaborate to small sweet gifts. For example, Everton’s Hill Dickinson stadium was lit in the colours of the Senegal flag to celebrate Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye. Paris Saint-Germain took to Instagram to congratulate 18-year old midfielder Ibrahim Mbaye. Fulham’s social media team celebrated the Nigerian trio of Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, and Calvin Bassey. Manchester United, who had previously welcomed their stars, Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast) and Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroun), celebrated Mazraoui. And so much more from other clubs like Sunderland, Lazio, Villareal, West Ham, Lazio, Royal Union Saint-Gilloise, Al-Ahli, and Al-Nassr. 

5. New FIFA Rankings for African Countries: 

FIFA/Coca Cola Men’s World Rankings showing Morocco in the top 10. Source: Inside FIFA

FIFA/Coca Cola Men’s World Rankings post-AFCON now include an African team in the top 10, with Morocco moving up 3 places to 8th after gaining 20.23 points. Senegal (12th), Nigeria (26th), Algeria (28th), Egypt (31st), Côte d’Ivoire (37th), Cameroon (45th) and DR Congo (48th) also moved up in the standings. It remains to be seen how these new rankings reflect on upcoming competitions, but regardless, we’re here for the improvements!

You can read up on our coverage of AFCON as one of Africa's longest-running cultural productions here.