Senegal defeated Morocco to win a second men’s African Cup of Nations, a tournament undergoing a commercial boom.
The 1-0 extra time victory was marred by a brief walkout and questionable refereeing decisions, a controversial cap to a tournament that otherwise played out as expected. Its financial success, meanwhile, bodes well for future editions: Revenues rose 90% compared to the previous tournament, while event sponsors numbered 23 compared to just nine in 2021.
A decision by the continental governing body to host the tournament every four years from the current two is also positive: Analysts told Semafor the scarcity created by the new format will likely boost the value of broadcast rights.