Salomon Kalou knows AFCON better than most, the pressure, the emotion, the chaos and the moments that define careers. Speaking to Duelbits in an official interview, the former Ivory Coast forward offered a sharp, honest breakdown of the final, the standout performers and where African football is heading next.
Kalou didn’t gloss over the controversy surrounding the final, calling out the behaviour that overshadowed the football. “Some of the behaviour from the Senegalese players was disappointing,” he said, but he was quick to highlight the composure of Senegal’s talisman. “Sadio Mané showed incredible leadership in the middle of all that chaos… he reminded everyone what true professionalism looks like.”
On Brahim Díaz’s bold penalty, Kalou was clear that the issue was timing. “Never. Not in a final, not in that moment,” he answered, on whether he would have attempted it, arguing that a high‑risk attempt simply doesn’t belong on that stage. He praised Díaz’s overall tournament but believes the miss will unfairly overshadow his performances. “It’s a shame, because he deserved to be remembered for his performances, not that one decision.”
As for who deserved the trophy, Kalou leaned towards Morocco. “I would have felt more comfortable if Morocco had taken it,” he admitted, praising their control and composure. But he acknowledged that finals hinge on moments, and Senegal seized theirs. Pape Gueye’s winner, assisted by Mané, earned special praise: “Clean, powerful, unstoppable… the kind of goal that wins finals.”
Kalou was energised by the emergence of young talent across the tournament. “Bazoumana Touré showed incredible maturity… Ibrahim Mbaye is growing fast at PSG… Mamadou Sarr reads the game naturally,” he said, adding that Ilias Akhomach brought real spark off the bench for Morocco. For Kalou, this wave of players signals a bright future. “When you see this kind of talent emerging all at once, you know the next generation is in very good hands.”
Refereeing and VAR were harder to praise. “Some decisions were correct, others were confusing, and a few took far too long,” he said, arguing that the technology only works when the people using it do. “AFCON deserves better consistency.”
On the bigger picture, Kalou believes respect for African football is growing but insists the next step is clear. “True global respect will come when African teams consistently go deep at the World Cup.” The quality is rising, the professionalism is improving, and the gap between nations is shrinking, but the world stage remains the benchmark.
Looking ahead to 2027, Kalou didn’t hesitate. “Ivory Coast or Nigeria,” he said, backing the depth and trajectory of both squads. And when asked for his player of the tournament, there was no debate. “For me, it has to be Sadio Mané… he was the leader, the heartbeat, the difference‑maker.”
Kalou’s reflections capture AFCON perfectly: chaotic, emotional, unpredictable and endlessly compelling. And in his view, the tournament, and the continent, is only getting stronger.
