Senegal have defeated Morocco 1-0 in a dramatic 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday night.
It was a tight affair between the top-two ranked countries on the continent in Rabat.
And there were no goals in the first half.
The second half was tilting towards a 0-0, until the ref disallowed Ismaila Sarr’s header for a foul on Achraf Hakimi.
In the 97th minute, the Atlas Lions were awarded a controversial penalty. After a lot of tension, which saw the Senegalese players walk off the pitch, Brahim Diaz saw his weak panenka saved by Eduoard Mendy.
Pape Gueye then stunned Morocco in the first half of extra with a sublime left-footed finish, to ensure the West Africans emerged
Senegal emerged as champions of Africa after a dramatic 1–0 victory over Morocco in a tense and chaotic AFCON 2025 final, settled late in extra time.
The high-octane showdown, filled with controversy, VAR interventions and missed opportunities, was finally decided in the 94th minute of extra time. Pape Gueye produced a moment of magic, weaving past two Moroccan defenders at the edge of the area before firing an unstoppable right-footed strike into the top corner, leaving goalkeeper Bono helpless.
With a penalty shootout looming, Gueye’s stunning effort sparked wild celebrations among the Senegalese players and bench, while Moroccan players were left stunned.
The final lived up to its billing as one of the most turbulent in the tournament’s history. Tempers flared throughout, yellow cards were abundant, and VAR played a decisive role in several key moments.
Morocco came agonisingly close to sealing victory in stoppage time when a VAR review awarded them a penalty in the 90th minute. However, Brahim Diaz failed to capitalise, as his tame spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy — a turning point that shifted momentum firmly in Senegal’s favour.
Both teams created clear chances during regulation time. Iliman Ndiaye nearly opened the scoring for Senegal in the first half, but Bono pulled off an outstanding save. Morocco responded with sustained pressure, with Abde Ezzalzouli and Ayoub El Kaabi both narrowly missing the target.
The drama intensified in extra time. Youssef En-Nesyri missed a free header, while Nayef Aguerd came inches away when his powerful header struck the crossbar. Senegal also wasted chances, with Cherif Ndiaye missing from close range before Gueye delivered the decisive moment.
Frequent stoppages due to fouls and injuries added to the tension, with referee Jean-Jacques Ndala under constant scrutiny, particularly over the VAR decision that led to Morocco’s missed penalty.
For Senegal, the triumph marked a historic achievement and reinforced their status as one of Africa’s football powerhouses. Anchored by Mendy’s composure in goal and Gueye’s commanding presence in midfield, the Teranga Lions showed resilience and belief when it mattered most.
Morocco, on the other hand, were left to reflect on missed opportunities and a costly penalty miss after matching Senegal for much of the contest.
As the final whistle sounded after 120 gripping minutes, Senegal’s players celebrated a memorable triumph, while their fans rejoiced in a night destined to live long in African football history.
Despite the controversy, the AFCON 2025 final delivered unforgettable drama — and crowned a deserving champion.champions.