Senegal delivered a dramatic upset in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final, edging hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time in a match overshadowed by ugly scenes and a highly contentious penalty decision.
Pape Gueye emerged as the unlikely hero, striking the decisive goal in extra time to silence the home crowd and crown Senegal champions once again.
Morocco had a golden chance to secure the trophy deep into stoppage time when Brahim Diaz stepped up in the 24th minute of added time. However, the Real Madrid winger failed to capitalise, with Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy comfortably saving a weak chipped effort.
Diaz appeared unsettled by the prolonged delay of nearly 20 minutes that followed the referee’s decision to award the penalty.
Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala pointed to the spot after a VAR review of a challenge by Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf on Diaz inside the box. The call sparked furious reactions, with Moroccan players and officials urging the referee to reconsider after viewing the footage. While Morocco celebrated the decision, Senegal’s players and supporters reacted angrily.
Several Senegal players walked off the pitch in protest, while sections of their supporters threw chairs and other objects from the away end and attempted to invade the field of play. Police and stewards eventually restored order, and the mood among Senegal fans quickly shifted from rage to disbelief and joy when Mendy denied Diaz.
Senegal’s frustration had been building even before the penalty incident, having seen a potential late winner ruled out moments earlier. In the second minute of added time, Abdoulaye Seck struck the post from a corner before Ismaila Sarr headed in the rebound, only for the goal to be disallowed for a foul.
After surviving the penalty scare, Senegal appeared energised, and their breakthrough arrived in the fourth minute of extra time. Sadio Mane won possession in midfield and fed Idrissa Gana Gueye, who slipped a pass through to Pape Gueye. The Villarreal midfielder shrugged off Moroccan captain Achraf Hakimi before unleashing a superb strike into the top corner past Yassine Bounou.
Morocco were devastated by the goal, with Diaz quickly withdrawn as frustration spread through the home side. They came agonisingly close to forcing a penalty shoot-out when Nayef Aguerd headed against the crossbar in the second period of extra time, but luck was not on their side.
The hosts had hoped to lift the trophy in front of their own supporters and end a 50-year wait for a second continental title. Senegal, meanwhile, could have sealed the match earlier had Cherif Ndiaye not missed a clear opportunity late in extra time, but they held firm to secure victory.
This triumph marks Senegal’s second Africa Cup of Nations title in the last three editions, following their penalty shoot-out win over Egypt in Yaounde in 2022, which delivered their first-ever AFCON crown.
Attention now turns to the World Cup in the United States this June, with uncertainty surrounding Sadio Mane’s international future after he stated that this final would be his last AFCON appearance.
Any post-match investigation is expected to examine the conduct of Senegal players and supporters, as well as potential lapses by Moroccan organisers. The chaotic scenes capped a tense and tightly contested final that offered few clear chances, reflecting the defensive strength of two of Africa’s highest-ranked teams.
Earlier in the match, Senegal’s Iliman Ndiaye was denied when through on goal by Bounou, while Morocco missed a major chance just before the hour mark as Ayoub El Kaabi prodded wide from a Bilal El Khannouss cross.
Ultimately, the late controversy and extra-time strike defined a painful night for Morocco, with many fans leaving the stadium before the final whistle in the cold and rain of Rabat.
What you should know
Senegal’s victory over Morocco was defined by controversy, resilience, and a historic breakthrough goal.
The final was disrupted by a late VAR-awarded penalty that sparked protests, crowd disorder, and a lengthy delay, dramatically shifting momentum.
Morocco’s missed penalty proved decisive, allowing Senegal to regroup and strike in extra time through Pape Gueye. The win represents Senegal’s second AFCON title in three tournaments and their first goal ever scored in an AFCON final.
For Morocco, the defeat ended hopes of a home triumph and extended their long wait for continental glory.
