1. Bafana Bafana: A campaign of promise and missed opportunity

South Africa's Bafana Bafana delivered a campaign that mixed competitive spirit with unfulfilled potential, ultimately exiting at the Round of 16. There were encouraging signs during the group stage, including attacking intent and resilience, but familiar issues resurfaced when the pressure intensified.

In their knockout defeat, Bafana struggled to turn promising spells into decisive moments, allowing more experienced opposition to edge them out. The tournament sparked renewed debate around tactical consistency, squad balance and whether South Africa are maximising their available talent. While there were positives to take, it was another AFCON that left supporters wondering how much further this team could have gone.

2. Final marred by controversy, passion and debate

The AFCON final will be remembered not just for its result but for the chaotic and controversial scenes that unfolded late in normal time. With the score at 0-0 deep into stoppage time, a VAR review led to a late penalty award for Morocco, sparking fury among the Senegal players and technical staff. Senegal briefly walked off the pitch in protest, an extraordinary moment on such a grand stage.

After a prolonged delay, play resumed and Morocco's Brahim Díaz missed the decisive penalty, a moment that swung momentum decisively. The drama did not end there, as Senegal eventually struck in extra time to seal victory. The sequence of events — VAR intervention, protests, a missed spot-kick and a decisive extra-time goal — ensured the final will be debated long after the trophy celebrations ended.

3. Sadio Mane's leadership sets the standard

Beyond goals and results, Sadio Mane's leadership emerged as one of the tournament's defining themes. In the most chaotic moments of the final, it was Mane who calmed teammates, urged Senegal back onto the pitch and ensured focus remained intact despite the controversy.

His influence extended well beyond the final. Throughout the competition, Mane led by example with work rate, discipline and composure, reinforcing his role as the emotional and tactical heartbeat of the Senegal side. Even when not on the scoresheet, his presence lifted those around him.

If this does prove to be Mane's final Africa Cup of Nations at the peak of his powers, he leaves behind a legacy defined not just by trophies, but by leadership under pressure — a benchmark for future generations of African footballers.

4. Nigeria's clear progress signals a team on the rise

Nigeria emerged from the tournament with renewed optimism after a campaign that showcased clear improvement and attacking threat, spearheaded by Victor Osimhen. The Super Eagles looked more cohesive and purposeful than in recent AFCON outings, combining physicality with moments of real quality in the final third.

Osimhen was central to Nigeria's resurgence, leading the line with aggression, movement and relentless pressing. While goals were shared around the squad, his influence stretched beyond statistics, setting the tone for Nigeria's attacking play and forcing defences into constant mistakes. His performances reinforced his status as one of Africa's elite forwards and a genuine tournament-defining figure.

Finishing third after defeating Egypt on penalties was a significant step forward, particularly given Nigeria's inconsistent recent history at AFCON. There is now a growing sense that this team is building towards something bigger, with Osimhen at the heart of a side capable of challenging for the title at the next edition.

5. Egypt show resilience but fall short of expectations

Egypt's run to a fourth-place finish summed up a tournament defined by resilience, tension and lingering frustration. The Pharaohs once again showed their ability to grind through difficult matches, but their campaign ultimately ended without silverware after a penalty shootout defeat to Nigeria in the third-place playoff.

Much of the focus inevitably fell on Mohamed Salah, whose presence continues to define Egypt's AFCON identity. While the Liverpool forward produced moments of quality and leadership, this was not a tournament where he could consistently carry the side on his own. Salah's missed penalty in the shootout against Nigeria proved a painful moment, underlining how fine the margins were for Egypt throughout the knockout phase.

Hossam Hassan's side were difficult to beat and defensively organised, but their lack of cutting edge in open play again raised familiar questions. Egypt have now gone consecutive AFCON tournaments without lifting the trophy, and while their experience and tournament know-how remain clear strengths, there is growing debate over whether the team relies too heavily on Salah rather than evolving into a more balanced attacking unit.

Malesela challenges Gallants to stay on track