The 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) has officially wrapped up, with Senegal hoisting the trophy after a gritty victory over hosts Morocco. On paper, it was a tournament of stellar infrastructure and vibrant fan moments—shout out to the DR Congo supporter who stood out. But if you’ve been anywhere near social media over the last few weeks, you know the real story wasn’t just about football.
Beneath the gloss of the closing ceremony lay a tournament riddled with controversies that lit up our timelines. From “towel-gate” to questions about East Africa’s readiness for 2027, the digital discourse has been arguably louder than the stadium cheers.
At Techish Kenya, we usually stick to gadgets, fintech, and internet culture. But when a sporting event dominates the digital conversation and impacts the reputation of our 2027 co-hosting duties, we have to talk about it. We’ve scrubbed through the viral clips and threads to bring you the top 5 moments that threatened to overshadow the beautiful game.
1. The ‘towel-gate’ and unsportsmanlike conduct
If you thought tech pettiness was bad, you haven’t seen Moroccan ball boys in action. In what X users quickly branded a “disgrace,” the tournament saw repeated attempts by hosts—including stewards and players—to unsettle opposition goalkeepers by literally stealing their towels.
Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali (semi-final) and Senegal’s Edouard Mendy (final) were both victims of this bizarre tactic. It didn’t stop there; objects, including a banana, were thrown at Nwabali. The kicker? Morocco was awarded the Fair Play Trophy at the end of the tournament. The internet remains undefeated, with users calling it the “worst hosted AFCON” regarding sportsmanship.
2. VAR controversies and the ‘robbery’ narrative
Refereeing scandals are nothing new in football, but the volume of complaints on social media suggests this year was different. The timeline was flooded with accusations of bias toward the hosts, with verified accounts sharing clips of ignored penalties—like the foul on Cameroon’s Bryan Mbeumo—and conveniently unreviewed VAR calls.
The chaos peaked in the final when a dubious late penalty was awarded to Morocco, prompting Senegal’s coach to briefly order a pitch walkout. Although Brahim Diaz missed the subsequent Panenka (much to the delight of rival fans online), the incident cemented the “daylight robbery” narrative. For a continent trying to elevate its footballing prestige, these lapses in officiating tech and judgment are a major bug in the system.
3. The ‘final of shame’: Fan riots
The scenes from the final in Marrakech were, frankly, dangerous. While we often celebrate the passion of African fans, the destruction of LED boards and stadium seating by rioting supporters is a hard watch.
Following the final whistle, clashes between fans and police resulted in arrests and injuries, with footage circulating of Algerian supporters breaking barricades earlier in the tournament. X quickly dubbed it the “Final of Shame.” It serves as a stark reminder that while smart stadiums and high-tech security are great, crowd management protocols need a serious firmware update before 2027.
4. Media hostility: Booing the coach
In a moment that veteran reporters called “unprecedented,” Moroccan journalists were recorded booing Senegal coach Pape Thiaw and his daughter during the post-final press conference.
The noise was so disruptive that the conference couldn’t proceed properly. This breach of media ethics went viral immediately, with the digital community criticizing the hostility as a low point for hosting decorum. It’s a bad look for the industry and a reminder of the toxicity that can sometimes bleed from the stands into the press room.
5. The Infrastructure insult: East Africa 2027 under fire
This one hits close to home. During a press conference in Rabat, Ivorian journalist Mamadou Gaye sparked a massive backlash from Kenyans online. Gaye questioned the readiness of the East Africa Pamoja bid (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania) for AFCON 2027, claiming there are “no roads” in the region and suggesting a standard drop. He even alleged it takes two days to drive between the countries.
Naturally, #KOT (Kenyans on Twitter) did not let this slide. While CAF President Patrice Motsepe defended the 2027 bid, the comments highlighted the skepticism we face.
As we look toward co-hosting in 2027, these “disgraceful” moments are a lesson. We aren’t just building stadiums; we are building a reputation.
The comments by Mamadou Gaye, while infuriating, should serve as a wake-up call. We need to ensure our infrastructure—both physical (roads, rail) and digital (connectivity, ticketing, security)—is beyond reproach. The “Pamoja” bid is our chance to show that East Africa can host a tournament that is technologically sound, safe, and, most importantly, sportsmanlike.
Did we miss any controversial moments? Let us know in the comments below.
