By Oni Ladonette Ondesa
Journalist kick442.com – Cameroon
In the chaotic, heart-thumping theater of African football, there is a saying: “The enemy of my enemy is my brother, at least until the final whistle.” But during this tournament, that sentiment didn’t just stay in the stands, it became a continental movement.
We witnessed something truly extraordinary, a diplomatic alliance formed not by treaties or trade, but by shared heartbreak, officiating grievances, and a collective, burning desire to see Morocco fall.
The Genesis of the “Anti-Atlas” Alliance
It all began in East Africa. Tanzania’s knockout exit left wounds that refused to heal. A late incident in the box, a penalty appeal waved away, and the final whistle blew before hope could settle. Tanzanian fans did not simply accept defeat. They carried it forward. When they couldn’t do it themselves, When they could no longer fight on the pitch, they looked for someone else to do it for them. The mantle fell on the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.
The logic was simple: “We fell so you could fly, Cameroon. Please, just take them out.”
But football is cruel with timing. Cameroon then ran into its own storm of officiating controversies and exited the competition with anger simmering just beneath the surface. The alliance grew stronger. East Africa’s pain met Central Africa’s frustration. The circle widened.
The Nigerian Hope and the “Triple Threat”
By the time the quarterfinals rolled around, the baton of hatred or rather, “intense competitive preference” was passed to Nigeria. Social media was a sight to behold. Cameroonian fans, usually the fiercest rivals of the Super Eagles, were suddenly seen draped in Green and White. Tanzanians were shouting “Up Eagles!” from the rooftops of Dar es Salaam. It was a beautiful, surreal moment of African unity all focused on the downfall of the Atlas Lions.
But football does not reward emotion. Morocco beat Nigeria. Calmly. Efficiently. And with that victory, the list of enemies grew longer. Tanzania. Cameroon. Nigeria. All watching the same team with the same wish, hoping for a stumble that may never come.
As Morocco advanced, fans were no longer tuning in to admire tactics or discipline. They were watching to pray. Every missed Moroccan chance felt personal. Every whistle against them felt deserved. The idea was no longer support for one team. It was resistance against one.
Then came the twist that completed the drama. North Africa joined the chaos.
The North African Schism: No Brotherly Love
If the Sub-Saharan alliance was expected, the North African betrayal was the “chef’s kiss” of drama. Usually, there is a narrative of “Maghreb Unity,” but that went out the window faster than a failed VAR check.
Algerians, Tunisians and Egyptians did not sit down quietly. They brought back memories. Screenshots resurfaced. Old celebrations were recalled. Moments when Moroccan fans had cheered their eliminations were brought back into the spotlight. Brotherhood was suspended. Football does not forget.
The “North African Brotherhood” officially went on hiatus, replaced by a delightful level of pettiness that only African football can produce.
The Final Stand: Everyone is Senegalese Today
By the time the final arrived, the “Common Enemy” effect had reached its peak. A sporting site’s comment section looked like a United Nations assembly of Morocco-haters. Fans from Lagos, Douala, Cairo, and Dar es Salaam all suddenly discovered a lifelong, deep-seated passion for Senegal.
I have never eaten Teranga Lions’ food, I don’t speak Wolof, but today, I am more Senegalese than Sadio Mané,” joked one fan online.
Morocco United Africa
While Morocco may have reached the final, they achieved something even more difficult: They united Africa.
Granted, they united the continent against them, but unity is unity! We saw rivals become “mortal friends” and enemies share a virtual hug over a missed Moroccan chance. It was a masterclass in “The Art of the Hater,” a display of the sheer, unadulterated passion that makes African football the most entertaining soap opera on the planet.
In the end, Morocco stood alone against a continent that had collectively decided to support “whoever is playing against the red and green.” It wasn’t just football, it was a festival of petty, a carnival of grudges, and a reminder that in Africa, we don’t just love the game, we love to see our rivals lose even more.
English 
French