Winner the dog, is kidnapped by a woman who thinks he is lost, and taken to New York. But thanks to the prompt action of Arbor, who detects his scent via the grass of the airport, Simba and the other friends manage to follow Winner’s trail up to the airplane’s loading cart and beyond. Shortly after Winner gets off the plane, he finally manages to escape, and among the plants of Central Park, ducks into a manhole leading into the city's sewer system.

Simba calls upon Bimbo to help him, and the latter leaves the Black Forest immediately with all the other old friends of the jungle. Then, with the help of Arbor and Owl's wisdom and the documents they possess, they set off to rescue Winner. Arbor next takes them to Central Park and, after having listened to its last, warnings, the brave friends go down into the city's underground tunnels without Arbor, who cannot follow them as there is no vegetation in the tunnels.

They start going down long tunnels which all look the same, and which are all covered with condensed steam, until after a while, they run into the first of the terrible gangs of urban rat warriors that have infested New York City sewers.  These gangs, identified as such by the weapons they use and by their means of transport (motorcycles, rollerblades, etc.), have staked out their areas of influence in the underground world, and fight among themselves and against anyone who enters these areas. Their meeting place is a pub where they form alliances and listen to the New York City sewer radio, run by a ghost cat, Katsper, who controls all their movements, and sometimes seems to spur them on to fight each other.

Simba, Bimbo, and the others have several encounters with them, and after a number of battles, are captured and kept prisoner in a sort of zoo. Once there, they realize that the rats' most formidable weapon, the terrible slime which they shoot from their ray guns, is nothing except for their condensed nastiness. And so, thanks to Cicci's "odes," they try to make the rats more sensitive and nicer so that the slime will be innocuous and allow them to escape. All the cubs, Simba's offspring, the nephews, and the nieces of the others, watch what is happening in New York through the magical surface of the pool in the Kilimanjaro’s palace and decide to go to New York and rescue them.

They trick Arbor and manage to make him take them to New York. Once they have reached the underground tunnels, they manage to free Simba and the other adults with the help of Katsper and Fox, a stray dog. They then convince Simba and his friends to return to Africa, because they have found out that the terrible tiger has returned, and their help is needed in the jungle. The cubs will remain in search of Winner; new animals have also joined them in the search (caimans, alligators, lizards, etc.). Guided by Fox, they go to the "Meatball Club," and the meeting place of stray dogs where they are humourously forced to take part in their musical festival (with great success!). There is no trace of Winner there, but thanks to a tiny plant which barely managed to survive growing out of a crack in the wall, Arbor communicates to them that Winner is in a stadium not far away. He is training a soccer team hoping to participate in the World Cup and so taken with his job, that he seems oblivious to the perilous adventures of others in their attempt to track him down. Winner soon manages to get everyone dedicated to the team, Africa 1, in the world championships of Footballville.

Everyone does his best to help Winner realize his dream. Cicci undergoes his metamorphosis, transforming himself into a terrific athletic trainer, but their task seems impossible. In fact, they will have to face teams far more famous, but with the aid of the new comers, Winner seems sure of himself. Above all, Simba Jr., Fox, and Katsper are real champions. Cheered on by the public and by their friends from far away who are watching them on the pool-screen (and thanks also to the radio coverage of A.R.N. the Animal Radio Network, which broadcasts throughout the world), Africa 1 becomes the team to beat at the championship.

There are some issues to be resolved, however, when substitutions are needed because of a few players along with some bureaucratic problems that are brilliantly solved. For example, Fox and Katsper are registered as being without any citizenship... Simba and his delegation leave quickly for Kilimanjaro, in search of new talent. There they discover Fakocerhino, the son of Fakocer, a real goal-scoring machine.

They are unstoppable on their way toward the semi-finals, and, in a series of tense games, Africa 1 eliminates all the other teams, each of them more expert and more famous than they themselves. Their team is made up of outstanding players, and the best of these is undoubtedly the magnificent player-trainer, Winner, who comes onto the field during the most serious of situations.

The semifinal is between France and Spain. It is a beautiful game which ends in a Victory for France. Now everyone is waiting for the second semifinal between Italy and Africa 1. The whole animal kingdom is listening on A.R.N.  Also, on Kilimanjaro all the animals are gathered around the pool-screen watching intently. At the end of the first half, despite the effort made by all, the score is still tied at 0-0. Simba and all his friends ask that Fakocerhino be brought on as a substitute, and Winner then sends him on in place of a defender.

Thanks to his feats, and the skill of Genius and Fox, Africa 1 scores a goal, winning with a score of 1-0 among the general exultation passes on to the final. It is still dawn when the first fans from Africa start arriving, transported by Arbor, to support Africa 1 in the final against France. Simba and the others go to welcome them and greet Arbor, from whose trunk  a river of animals pours forth, amongst whom are the old friends from the underground world of New York- they have come to cheer on Fox and Katsper.

The first half, fiercely fought and with fantastic plays made by both teams, finishes tied, but Winner comes on the field himself in the second half.  Then, thanks to a fantastic pass from Rino, he scores a winning goal. Africa 1 is then the world champion.  After winning the cup, they next take part in the fabulous celebration offered by the organizers, before returning to Kilimanjaro.

The celebrations continue in the palace, and the plan is for them to continue in the jungle. Farna is moved as she hugs her children, realizing that they are no longer cubs... For this, she is rather a bit worried about the relationship which is growing between Luce and Fox.

Mother and daughter have a discussion causing Luce to wind up in tears. She remains alone, crying in the room of the pool-screen. There, among her tears, she then has a vision: a new-born human child who shines as if made of gold, and is surrounded by Evil forces who want to destroy it. The baby holds out his arms toward Luce, who realizes she is the only one who can save the child, and that by saving him, she will save the entire earth as well. When she awakes from the trance, Luce then tells Simba and Bimbo of the danger. While outside, the old fortune-teller tells Fox to be ready, and to leave, because he will be fighting at Luce's side to save the world from the forces of Evil... A new adventure is about to start!