Afcon 2025: Previewing two heavyweight semi-final clashes

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.Timecodes:00:34 - Immediate reaction to a chaotic AFCON final 02:42 - Are Morocco fit to co-host the 2030 World Cup after how they handled this final? 04:21 - How much responsibility should Senegal take for the ugly scenes at the end of the game? 07:12 - An undercurrent of hysteria around refereeing decisions 08:43 - Analysis of decisions at the end of the game 11:04 - Sadio Mane - Senegal's greatest ambassador 11:50 - Brahim Diaz's failed Panenka - will it haunt him forever? 14:26 - Senegal trophy lift

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 07:00 Pressures of playing an ‘away’ Afcon 08:00 The best Afcon teams progressing to the knockout rounds 09:00 Morocco’s football investment 11:00 African nations following Morocco and Senegal’s lead 12:40 Impact of Afcon switching to every four years 15:45 Sunday Oliseh on Nigeria’s tournament 19:15 Tour of Rabat 25:30 Moroccan football expert Amine El-Amri on role of football in Morocco 31:00 Morocco’s aspirations to become a football superpower 33:30 Moroccan midfielder Sofyan Amrabat interview 36:30 Moroccan head coach Walid Regragui on the final 37:30 Final Predictions

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.  Timecodes:00:14 - Immediate reaction to Morocco's victory over Nigeria 09:03 - Reaction to Senegal's victory over Egypt 15:49 - Sadio Mane interview 17:03 - Idrissa Gana Gueye interview

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.Timecodes: 03:00 – 27:00 Nigeria v Morocco 27:30 – 30:00 Salah vs Mané Part 3 30:00 – 36:00 Egypt v Senegal 36:00 – 40:00 What impact would an Afcon win have on Salah’s legacy? 41:30 – Final Predictions

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.Timecodes:00:30 - Cameroon 0-2 Morocco 05:21 - Algeria v Nigeria preview 08:01 - Mali 0-1 Senegal 12:02 - Egypt v Ivory Coast preview

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.Timecodes:00:45 - Cameroon focus with Ben Collins 03:44 - Could Cameroon's Christian Kofane be African football's next superstar? 05:38 - Senegal with focus with Djim Momar 07:59 - Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet interview 10:53 - Morocco focus with Patrick Juillard

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.Timecodes:01:37 - Has the first week of the AFCON lived up to the expectations 04:40 - Nigeria fans react to 3-2 win over Tunisia 05:43 - Thoughts on Nigeria's win over Tunisia 09:05 - Focus on Nigeria's attacking firepower 10:59 - Victor Osimhen chat 18:17 - Will Nigeria rest players against Uganda? 19:14 - Tunisia favourites to join Nigeria from Group C in the last 16? 20:34 - Rob Stevens joins the pod to reflect on Senegal v DR Congo 22:37 - Can Senegal or DR Congo challenge for the title? 25:29 - Benin claim their first AFCON win 26:35 - Is this AFCON lacking the 'vibes'? 32:13 - Predictions after the first week

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.