Villarreal defensive midfielder, Pape Gueye, netted in a lone goal victory following extra time after Senegal left the field in protest against a penalty decision.
The Lions of Teranga walked off the venue in protest at a penalty awarded against them before making their way back to defeat host nation, Morocco, 1-0 after extra time, and emerge Champions of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.
The match, which held at the 69,500 capacity Stadium in Rabat, had Gueye score for Senegal in the 94th minute after a penalty awarded in favour of the Atlas Lions to be taken in the 24th minute of additional time by Brahim Diaz, Real Madrid forward, was wasted.
Diaz threw away the opportunity to win it for the home side by fluffing the last-gasp penalty in normal time following a 14-minute delay.
Pape Bouna Thiaw, Senegal head coach, ordered his players off, and it was Sadio Mane, who fields for Saudi Professional League club, Al Nassr, who persuaded them to come back.
Morocco won the penalty after a VAR check by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala after Diaz had been forced to the ground by Senegal full-back El Hadji Malick Diouf while shielding a corner kick five minutes into stoppage time.
After the West Africans returned to the field, Diaz chipped his penalty, and his feeble kick went straight into the arms of Edouard Mendy, Senegal goalkeeper.
This outcome means Morocco’s search for the AFCON title continues after winning it last fifty (50) years ago, in 1976.
After Diaz’ penalty miss, Mane won possession in midfield and located Idrissa Gana Gueye, who then provided for Gueye, to find the net.
The Villarreal man resisted Morocco Captain and defender, Achraf Hakimi, who advanced to the box, before striking the ball into the top corner past Al Hilal goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou.
The match would have still headed into penalty as Nayef Aguerd’s header struck the crossbar in the second half of extra time.
Dakar is not sleeping anytime soon. 🇸🇳🏆#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/7EvWKsHLUO
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 19, 2026
The AFCON 2025 is Senegal’s second title in the last three (3) editions after beating Egypt in a penalty shootout in Yaounde in 2022 to win the trophy for the first time in their history.
The Lions of Teranga will now face front for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in June to be hosted by the United States (US), Canada and Mexico.
Senegal had the best chance in the first half when Iliman Ndiaye was denied by Bounou, while, Morocco almost netted before the hour mark, but, Ayoub El Kaabi played Bilal El Khannouss’ cross wide.
Mane, former Liverpool forward, made known, the AFCON 2025 will be his last.
CAF described Mane as “legendary” after lifting the AFCON trophy in Rabat.
CAF wrote on X: “Lifted. Loved. Legendary. Senegal & Mané.”
Photo: Mane lifts the AFCON trophy | X/CAF
