His Cameroon side were comfortably beaten 2-0 by hosts Morocco in the quarter-finals.
They could have no complaints about the outcome although they felt they might have been awarded a penalty for a foul on Bryan Mbeumo.
Baleba said: “The group is disappointed, but there are a lot of positives because we had a very good tournament.
🚨 Report from Rabat:
Cameroon exit #AFCON2025 after defeat to Morocco but, for me, the Indomitable Lions can leave the tournament with new life, an exciting new generation and a bright future. pic.twitter.com/ZhSs5Nr8jD
— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) January 9, 2026
“Many of us played in our first AFCON. For the upcoming challenges, we will correct what didn’t work.”
Baleba will head back to England in time for his club’s next home game, against Bournemouth a week on Monday.
He again started for Cameroon, as had been the case for their four previous matches, and he has had generally had a positive tournament.
Albion will hope the experience has reinvigorated him for the remainder of the Premier League season.
His fellow Cameroon star Mbeumo will also miss Sunday’s FA Cup third-round tie between Manchester United and the Seagulls.
Baleba was named man of the match in the last 16 as Cameroon beat South Africa 2-1.
But taking on the hosts was a different proposition as they extended their unbeaten run to 25 games in front of a fervent crowd at the 69,500-seater stadium in Rabat.
Brahim Diaz scored in the first half and Ismael Saibari in the second before Baleba was replaced on 77 minutes.