Teranga Lions Earn $10m Following Dramatic AFCON 2025 Final Win Against Morocco

In a final destined to be remembered as one of the most dramatic and controversial in football history, Senegal has been crowned the champion of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Lions of Teranga defeated the host nation, Morocco, with a 1–0 victory in extra time on Sunday night, securing their second continental title and a record-breaking $10 million grand prize

Extra Time Heroics

After 90 minutes of high-tension, goalless football, the breakthrough finally came in the 94th minute. Midfielder Pape Gueye silenced the 66,000-strong crowd at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium with a thunderous left-footed strike from 20 yards out that flew into the top corner.

Despite a late surge from the Atlas Lions, including a header from Nayef Aguerd that rattled the crossbar, Senegal’s defense—anchored by the indomitable Kalidou Koulibaly—held firm to seal the historic win.

Chaos and the “Walk-Off” Protest

The match will likely be defined by the extraordinary scenes that unfolded in stoppage time of regulation play. With the score at 0–0, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a controversial penalty after a VAR review for a foul by Senegal’s El Hadji Malick Diouf on Brahim Diaz.

Incensed by the decision—and still reeling from a disallowed goal moments earlier—the Senegal team, under the instruction of coach Pape Thiaw, briefly walked off the pitch in protest. Following a 15-minute standoff and a plea from star man Sadio Mané, the team returned. In a cinematic twist, Edouard Mendy saved Diaz’s “Panenka-style” penalty attempt, sending the game into the extra-time period that eventually favored Senegal.

A Record-Breaking Windfall

The victory isn’t just a sporting triumph; it is a financial milestone. Under the new prize structure announced by CAF President Patrice Motsepe, Senegal will take home $10 million USD—a 43% increase from the previous tournament’s prize.

Tournament Financials at a Glance:

| Position | Prize Money (USD) |

| Winner (Senegal) | $10,000,000 |

| Runner-up (Morocco) | $4,000,000 |

| 3rd Place (Nigeria) | $2,500,000 |

| 4th Place (Egypt) | $2,500,000 |

The Final Word

As Sadio Mané lifted the trophy into the Rabat night sky, the celebration marked the solidification of Senegal as a modern African football dynasty.

“We showed the heart of lions today,” Mané said during the post-match celebrations. “To win against the hosts in this atmosphere, after everything that happened on the pitch… this is for the people of Dakar.”

For Morocco, the “fifty years of hurt” continues as they fail to secure a title on home soil, while Senegal returns to Dakar as the undisputed kings of the continent.