The Teranga Lions of Senegal have been crowned champions of Africa for the second time in their history, defeating hosts Morocco 1-0 in a dramatic and controversy-filled final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Sunday night.
A stunning extra-time strike from midfielder Pape Gueye was enough to separate the continent’s two heavyweights, but the match will likely be remembered for a chaotic end to regulation time that saw a walk-off protest, a lengthy delay, and a missed penalty by Moroccan star Brahim Diaz.
The final, played in front of over 60,000 passionate home fans, was a tense tactical battle that exploded into controversy deep into stoppage time.
With the score locked at 0-0 in the dying minutes of normal time, chaos erupted when referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty following a VAR review for a foul on Brahim Diaz. The decision infuriated the Senegalese squad, who had just seen a goal of their own disallowed moments earlier.
In an unprecedented move for a major final, Senegal’s players, led by head coach Pape Thiaw, walked off the pitch in protest. The game was suspended for nearly 20 minutes as Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials and security personnel worked to de-escalate the situation and persuade the defending champions to return.
When play finally resumed, the weight of the nation fell on Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz. The tournament’s top scorer attempted a daring Panenka penalty, but Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy stood his ground, calmly catching the chipped effort to silence the Rabat crowd and force the game into extra time.
Buoyed by the reprieve, Senegal seized the momentum. Just four minutes into the extra period (94th minute), Pape Gueye collected a pass in midfield, drove past the Moroccan defense, and unleashed a thunderous left-footed strike into the top corner, leaving goalkeeper Yassine Bounou with no chance.
Despite a late barrage of attacks from the Atlas Lions, including a header that rattled the crossbar, Senegal’s defense held firm to secure the victory.
“Football Won Tonight” Speaking after the match, Senegal’s hero Edouard Mendy played down the controversy. “We are not going to talk about things in the heat of the moment,” Mendy told reporters. “We did it together, and we came back together. Millions of Senegalese people are happy, and we will enjoy it.”
For Morocco, the defeat extends a painful 50-year wait for a continental title, a drought that dates back to 1976. Head coach Walid Regragui expressed his heartbreak but praised his team’s effort. “Football is cruel sometimes,” Regragui said. “That penalty in the last seconds could have won us the title, but we must accept the result.”
The victory cements Senegal’s status as the dominant force in African football, having now reached three of the last four AFCON finals and winning two. The team is expected to arrive in Dakar on Monday to a hero’s welcome.
