Last updated: July 2026
No football tournament matters more to African bettors than the Africa Cup of Nations — and after the way AFCON 2025 ended, no tournament has taught them more, either. The final in Morocco was decided twice: once on the pitch in January, and again in a boardroom in March, when the Confederation of African Football overturned the result entirely. For South African punters it was a masterclass in how bets actually settle, wrapped inside a tournament Bafana Bafana once again graced. This guide covers what happened in Morocco, what it means for your betting, the markets that suit AFCON's very particular style of football, and where to bet it all in rands with a licensed operator. Written plainly, for South African adults.
AFCON 2025 — The Tournament That Ended Twice
The 2025 edition, hosted by Morocco across December 2025 and January 2026, produced the strangest finish in the competition's history:
- On the pitch: Senegal beat the hosts 1–0 after extra time in the final on 18 January 2026 and lifted the trophy in Rabat.
- In the boardroom: during the final, Senegal's players had walked off the pitch for roughly 17 minutes in protest at a late VAR decision. On 17 March 2026 the CAF Appeal Board ruled the walk-off a forfeit, struck the result and awarded Morocco a 3–0 win — handing the hosts their first African title since 1976. Senegal have indicated they will take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Morocco's Brahim Díaz finished as the tournament's top scorer with five goals — a market that, mercifully, no boardroom needed to revisit.
What the Overturned Final Means for Your Bets
This is the part every bettor should understand. Bookmakers settle on the on-pitch result at the time the market is decided — for 1X2 that is the 90-minute score, for "to lift the trophy" it is the podium on the night. When a result is later changed by a disciplinary panel, settled bets are not re-settled. Punters who backed Senegal to win the final were paid in January; the March ruling did not claw that back, and Morocco backers did not get a late payout. The lesson generalises: bet the football, not the politics, and read your operator's settlement rules before assuming an appeal can rescue a losing ticket.
How Bafana Bafana Fared
South Africa went to Morocco with genuine expectation after their historic 2026 World Cup qualification campaign was already secured, and delivered a solid if heartbreaking tournament:
- South Africa 2–1 Angola — a winning start.
- South Africa 0–1 Egypt — undone by the group's heavyweight.
- South Africa 3–2 Zimbabwe — a nervy derby win that sealed second place in the group.
- Round of 16: South Africa 1–2 Cameroon — eliminated in Rabat by the five-time champions.
The betting profile was textbook Hugo Broos: organised, hard to beat, and tighter than the scorelines suggest — Bafana's group produced goals, but the knockout exit came in a match where Cameroon's extra quality in both boxes decided fine margins. Our full Bafana Bafana betting guide covers how to read this team market by market.
AFCON 2027 — What's Next
The next Africa Cup of Nations moves to East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda co-host in 2027, the first three-nation AFCON. For bettors, the cycle looks like this:
- Qualifiers run through the international windows between now and the finals, and licensed SA operators price every Bafana qualifier — expect low totals against packed defences, the classic qualifier profile.
- Outright markets open early. Morocco's title, Senegal's grievance and the usual depth of Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria and Cameroon make the 2027 winner market one of the most competitive outrights in African football. East African hosting also removes the North African climate advantage that suited Morocco.
- Host-nation value is real but limited. Hosts consistently outperform their ranking at AFCON — but with three co-hosts splitting home advantage in 2027, that historic edge is diluted. Price accordingly.
Key AFCON Markets
| Market | What you are betting on |
|---|
| Match result (1X2) | Win, draw or win — settled on 90 minutes |
| To qualify | Which side goes through, however it happens |
| Over/under goals | Total match goals over or under a line |
| Both teams to score (BTTS) | Whether both sides find the net |
| Correct score | The exact final scoreline |
| First / anytime goalscorer | A named player to score |
| Outright winner | The champion, priced before and during the tournament |
| Top goalscorer | The Golden Boot winner across the finals |
One AFCON-specific settlement rule worth repeating: 1X2 settles on 90 minutes. AFCON knockout ties go to extra time and penalties constantly — a shootout win is a 90-minute draw for betting purposes. If you want the team going through by any means, take "to qualify".
AFCON Betting Tips That Actually Help
- Back the under until the football argues otherwise. AFCON is historically the lowest-scoring major tournament: cagey group deciders, heavy defensive organisation and knockout football played on fine margins. The under and the draw are structurally live in almost every knockout tie.
- Respect the draw in knockouts. With extra time and penalties waiting, teams settle for 90-minute stalemates far more often than casual money expects — and the draw is nearly always the biggest price of the three.
- Check when the tournament falls. AFCON in December–January means European-based stars arrive mid-season — match-sharp but fatigued, and sometimes released late by their clubs. Squad-news discipline pays more here than in any European competition.
- Conditions and travel matter. Heat, altitude, long internal flights and variable pitches punish teams that look better on paper. The 2027 East African edition will add altitude in Nairobi and Kampala to the mix.
- Don't overrate reputation. AFCON is the great leveller — Comoros, Cape Verde and Equatorial Guinea have all embarrassed giants at big prices in recent editions. Blind accumulator legs on "big names" are how AFCON burns casual bettors.
- Set limits first. A month-long tournament with matches nearly every day is a chasing hazard. Decide stakes and stop-losses before the group stage, and stick to them — our responsible gambling guide covers the tools.
Where to Bet on AFCON in South Africa
Only bet with operators holding a valid South African licence — through the National Gambling Board (NGB) or a provincial authority. Licensed sites price every AFCON match in rands, offer local deposits and withdrawals, and give you real recourse. Our top picks for African football:
- Hollywoodbets — South Africa's most widely used bookmaker, with deep African football coverage, Bafana specials and full in-play betting. Visit Hollywoodbets.
- 10bet — a strong all-round sportsbook with competitive goals and handicap pricing on international football. Visit 10bet.
- Betshezi — a growing WCGRB-licensed operator with solid football odds and a rand wallet. Visit Betshezi.
Compare the full shortlist, including welcome offers and payout speeds, on our best betting sites in South Africa page. For the national team year-round, see Bafana Bafana betting; for the club game, our Premier League and Champions League guides; for the full sport, the football betting pillar.
FAQ
Who won AFCON 2025?
Morocco — but not on the pitch. Senegal won the final 1–0 after extra time in January 2026, then in March the CAF Appeal Board ruled Senegal's 17-minute mid-match walk-off a forfeit and awarded Morocco a 3–0 win, their first African title since 1976. Senegal plan to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Were bets on the AFCON 2025 final re-settled after the result was overturned?
No. Bookmakers settle on the on-pitch result at the time the market is decided, and later disciplinary rulings do not re-open settled bets. Senegal backers were paid on the night's 1–0; the March forfeit changed the record books, not the payouts.
How did Bafana Bafana do at AFCON 2025?
They beat Angola 2–1, lost 1–0 to Egypt, beat Zimbabwe 3–2 to finish second in their group, then went out 2–1 to Cameroon in the Round of 16.
When and where is the next AFCON?
In 2027, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda — the first three-nation AFCON. Qualifiers run through the international windows before then, and licensed SA operators price every Bafana qualifier and the tournament outrights.
What happens to my 1X2 bet if an AFCON knockout match goes to penalties?
The 1X2 market settles on 90 minutes, so a match decided in extra time or on penalties settles as a draw. Use the "to qualify" market if you want to back a team to progress by any means.
Odds, markets and results are correct at time of writing and change constantly — always check the live prices at your chosen operator. 18+ only. All operators listed are licensed by the NGB or a provincial authority. Gambling involves financial risk; bet for entertainment, never as income, and never stake more than you can afford to lose. If gambling is no longer fun, contact the National Responsible Gambling helpline on 0800 006 008 or SMS HELP to 076 675 0710.
