World Football

Lee James is joined by John Bennett and the former Nigeria international Daniel Amokachi for immediate reaction to Senegal winning the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the final descended into chaos in added time of normal time after Morocco were awarded a penalty following an intervention from the VAR, which led to Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw leading his team off the pitch before Brahim Diaz had his penalty saved. Pape Gueye then scored the only goal in the first half of extra time to secure the title for Senegal.

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00:34 - Immediate reaction to a chaotic AFCON final

Lee James and John Bennett are joined by former Tottenham and Cameroon defender Sebastien Bassong, Afcon winning Nigeria midfielder Sunday Oliseh and Moroccan football expert Amine El-Amri to preview the Africa Cup of Nations final, host's Morocco versus 2021 champions Senegal.

Plus, the team discuss the Senegalese Football Federation concerns about security and hear from Moroccan midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, head coach Walid Regragui.

01:35 Senegalese Football Federation security, accommodation and training ground concerns

A special bonus Afcon episode from More than the Score, the BBC World Service podcast that tells stories from beyond the scoresheet. Find more by searching for More than the Score wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

This year's Africa Cup of Nations, or Afcon, has been dominated by the continent's big teams. Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen helped Nigeria and Egypt reach the semi-finals, while the likes of Achraf Hakimi and Sadio Mane will face off when hosts Morocco take on Senegal in the final.

With Africa's superstars seemingly in top form, can they keep it up at this summer's World Cup - and could an African nation finally go all the way, and win football's most famous prize?

The BBC's Lee James and John Bennett talk to African football experts Gary Al Smith and Maher Mezahi as Africa's biggest tournament nears its conclusion. Why have the stars shone at this year's Afcon, and does that bode well for the summer? How have Ghana and Cape Verde's World Cup chances been affected by missing out on Afcon? And with some of the continent's biggest names seemingly nearing the end of their international careers, who will step into their shoes?

Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl, the Australian Open to the Diamond League, and netball to Formula 1. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Ivory Coast legend Yaya Toure, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and cycling sprint king Harrie Lavreysen, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from the referees who run VAR to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.

And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email [email protected], or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

Lee James is joined by John Bennett, North African football expert Maher Mezahi and Moroccan football journalist Jalal Bounouar to provide immediate reaction to hosts Morocco beating Nigeria on penalties to reach Sunday's final.

Piers Edwards and the former South Africa captain Dean Furman reflect on Senegal's 1-0 semi-final victory over Egypt, including reaction from match-winner Sadio Mane and teammate Idrissa Gana Gueye.  

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00:14 - Immediate reaction to Morocco's victory over Nigeria

Delyth Lloyd is joined by former Nigerian defender William Troost-Ekong, Mani Djazmi, John Bennett, Maher Mezahi and Ali Howorth to preview two blockbuster Afcon semi-finals. Hosts Morocco face Nigeria’s in-form Super Eagles; whilst its Salah vs Mané III, with Senegal playing Egypt.

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Lee James is joined by John Bennett and the former South Africa captain Dean Furman to reflect on a dominant 2-0 win for hosts Morocco against Cameroon in Rabat.

Isaac Fanin joins from Tangier to look back on Senegal's 1-0 victory over Mail.

Ian Williams sends us a dispatch from Agadir ahead Egypt's quarter-final against holders Ivory Coast, including hearing from Ivory Coast star Amad Diallo.

And Nigeria football expert Oluwashina Okeleji drops in from Marrakech to discuss Nigeria's preparations for their quarter-final against Algeria.

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00:30 - Cameroon 0-2 Morocco

John Bennett and Isaac Fanin look ahead to the opening two quarter-finals at the Africa Cup of Nations.

John is joined by Cameroon journalist Ben Collins and North African football expert Patrick Juillard to look ahead to hosts Morocco against the five-time winners Cameroon in Rabat.

While in Tangier, Isaac speaks to Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet and Senegal journalist Djim Momar ahead of the clash between the neighbouring nations.

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00:45 - Cameroon focus with Ben Collins

A star-studded cast led by Achraf Hakimi, Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen switch to knockout fare from Saturday, when the Africa Cup of Nations resumes in Morocco.

After 36 matches spread across six groups, the 16 survivors from 24 hopefuls clash in eight second-round matches over four days. Fit-again Hakimi is set to lead title favourites Morocco against Tanzania, Salah will captain Egypt against Benin and Osimhen-inspired Nigeria tackle Mozambique.

The BBC’s John Bennett is joined by African football expert Maher Mezahi and the former DR Congo captain Gabriel Zakuani to look ahead to the last 16.

Delyth Lloyd is joined by Mani Djazmi, former Sierra Leone captain Steven Caulker and former Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong to reflect on Nigeria's dramatic 3-2 victory over Tunisia in their second Group C match in Fez.

Troost-Ekong provides insight on leading the Super Eagles to the AFCON final in 2024 and gives us the inside track on "fearless" Victor Osimhen and his role as a leader in the Nigeria dressing room after a tough upbringing in Lagos.

BBC Sport Africa's Rob Stevens also joins the pod from Tangier to reflect on Senegal's 1-1 draw with DR Congo and discuss whether either nation can challenge for the title.

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01:37 - Has the first week of the AFCON lived up to the expectations

In this episode Moroccan football journalist Amine El Amri, the BBC’s John Bennett and the former DR Congo captain Gabriel Zakuani discuss the opening week of the tournament. Including Gab’s reaction to his teams draw against Senegal, Benin’s first ever Afcon win at the sixteenth attempt and an injury update on Morocco’s inspirational captain Achraf Hakimi, who missed their opening win against Comoros.