Senegal has been crowned the Africa Cup of Nations champions after a dramatic, controversy-laced final that saw the Lions of Teranga edge hosts Morocco 1–0 after extra time, sealing their second continental title in three editions.
The final at a rain-soaked Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium unfolded amid extraordinary scenes. Senegal briefly walked off the pitch in protest at a late penalty awarded to Morocco, only to return after captain Sadio Mané intervened to calm tensions and persuade his teammates back onto the field.
That penalty, awarded following a VAR review deep into stoppage time, offered Morocco a golden chance to win the title in regulation time. But midfielder Brahim Díaz, attempting a delicate Panenka-style finish, sent his effort straight into the grateful arms of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, drawing a collective gasp from the home crowd of more than 66,000.
Moments earlier, Senegal had seen a stoppage-time goal ruled out, further fuelling their frustration. Yet rather than breaking them, the chaos galvanised the defending champions.
Just four minutes into extra time, Senegal struck decisively. Mané won possession in midfield and fed Idrissa Gana Gueye, who slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Pape Gueye. The Villarreal midfielder surged forward, held off captain Achraf Hakimi, and unleashed a sublime strike into the top corner beyond Yassine Bounou, sending the Senegalese bench into raptures and silencing Rabat.
Morocco pushed desperately for an equaliser. Nayef Aguerd came agonisingly close, rattling the crossbar late in extra time, but fortune refused to smile on the Atlas Lions. Díaz, distraught after his missed penalty, was substituted as Senegal held firm through the closing minutes.
The defeat extended Morocco’s long wait for a second AFCON title, their only triumph coming 50 years ago. For Senegal, however, the night marked another golden chapter. Having won their first AFCON crown in 2022 after beating Egypt on penalties, they have now firmly established themselves as the continent’s dominant force.
Remarkably, Gueye’s strike was Senegal’s first-ever goal in an AFCON final, after failing to score in their previous appearances in the tournament’s showpiece match.
By Naomi Jeremiah