Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in an awfully chaotic Africa Cup of Nations remaining, with Pape Gueye scoring an extra-time stunner after the Lions of Teranga had walked off the pitch and refused to play following the awarding of a late penalty.
Brahim Diaz had the prospect to win the trophy for the hosts with the ultimate kick of regulation time, with the choice to penalise El Hadji Malick Diouf for dragging Diaz down prompting Senegal coach Pape Thiaw to steer his gamers again to the dressing room.
That spot-kick was awarded within the fifth minute of stoppage time however not taken till the twenty fourth after Senegal’s gamers returned, and Diaz’s Panenka was simply caught by Edouard Mendy.
That set the stage for Pape Gueye’s piledriver to clinch Senegal’s second AFCON triumph amid a tempestuous ambiance in Rabat, in what might have been Sadio Mane’s remaining sport on the match.
Pape Gueye. Pure emotion.#TotalE… pic.twitter.com/K4rWQqlAXA
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 18, 2026
The primary 90 minutes have been comparatively quiet, in comparison with the pandemonium that adopted. Iliman Ndiaye and Nayef Aguerd missed massive possibilities late within the first half, earlier than Ayoub El Kaabi skewed vast from shut vary within the 58th minute.
A nasty collision between Diouf and Neil El Aynaoui left the latter with blood pouring from his head, and although he was capable of proceed, the eight-minute delay attributable to the incident ensured there was a prolonged interval of second-half stoppage time.
Senegal had the ball within the internet within the first added minute, with Ismaila Sarr nodding in from beneath the crossbar after Idrissa Gueye’s header bounced off the submit, however referee Jean-Jacques Ndala had already blown the whistle for a comfortable foul on Achraf Hakimi.
Already incensed by that call, Senegal have been downright livid when Diaz gained his late penalty, with weird scenes ensuing as Thiaw informed his gamers to go away the pitch and Mane urged them to play on.
When play lastly resumed, Diaz’s chip barely left the bottom and was gathered by Mendy, with the Actual Madrid ahead in tears as regulation time got here to an finish.
And Morocco’s woes have been compounded three minutes into the extra interval, as Pape Gueye bundled his strategy to the sting of the field earlier than firing a rocket of a shot into the far nook.
There was nonetheless time for Aguerd to move in opposition to the crossbar and Cherif Ndiaye to someway shoot vast of a very open objective, with the full-time whistle sparking wild celebrations amongst these in inexperienced.
FULL-TIME!
Senegal win it in opposition to Morocco. #TotalE… | @tecnomobile pic.twitter.com/qNWGlLjdJM
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 18, 2026
Knowledge Debrief: Gueye ends drought as Senegal reign supreme once more
One way or the other, a way, Senegal are champions of Africa for the second time, having defeated Egypt on penalties following a goalless draw within the 2021 showpiece.
Pape Gueye’s blockbuster was really the primary objective the Lions of Teranga have ever scored in an AFCON remaining, having additionally misplaced on spot-kicks following a 0-0 draw with Cameroon in 2002, and gone down 1-0 to Algeria in 2019.
On the finish of 120 (or extra) minutes of drama, Senegal had fired off 14 pictures, hitting the goal with seven, and amassed 1.75 anticipated objectives (xG). Morocco had 20 pictures and a couple of.19 xG, however solely hit the goal thrice.
