Senegal won AFCON 2025 after a thrilling and dramatic match against Morocco.
Pape Gueye's goal in extra time, along with Brahim Diaz's missed penalty, helped Senegal defeat Morocco 1-0 to officially claim the AFCON 2025 title.
The AFCON 2025 final ended in an unbelievable scenario as Senegal successfully defended their lead against a resilient Morocco. Pape Gueye's solitary goal in the 94th minute of extra time sealed the match's fate, bringing the "Teranga Lions" back to the pinnacle of African football.
The 90+9th minute incident: Chaos and a shocking penalty.
The match reached its climax in the final seconds of regular time. In the 90+9th minute, the referee awarded Morocco a penalty after a Senegal defender fouled Brahim Diaz inside the penalty area. This decision sparked a fierce protest from Senegal. The Senegalese players and coaching staff even stopped playing and left the pitch for the tunnel to protest the refereeing team's decision.
After a tense stoppage, Senegal returned to the pitch to face a penalty. However, from the penalty spot, Morocco's most anticipated star, Brahim Diaz, unfortunately missed a golden opportunity to end the match within 90 minutes. The score remained 0-0, forcing the two teams into extra time.
Pape Gueye's decisive moment
Entering extra time with high spirits after narrowly avoiding defeat, Senegal immediately made the difference. In the 94th minute, following a sharp combination play, Pape Gueye unleashed a powerful shot that ripped through goalkeeper Yassine Bounou's net. This was a fitting punishment for the earlier mistakes by the Moroccan defense.
Throughout the second half of extra time, Morocco launched a full-scale attack with the mobility of Achraf Hakimi and the emergence of striker Youssef En-Nesyri. However, Senegal's disciplined defense held firm against all pressure, preserving their fragile but invaluable lead until the final whistle.
Senegal's dominance and Bounou's talent
Looking back at the official match, Senegal was the more proactive team from the start. From the first half, the Senegalese coach's players constantly besieged the opponent's goal. Sadio Mane and Nicolas Jackson were key players in the attacks, creating numerous dangerous opportunities. Most notably were Pape Gueye's close-range header in the 5th minute and Mamadou Sarr's shot in the 12th minute.
Had it not been for the brilliance of goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, the match would probably have been decided much earlier. The Moroccan goalkeeper made at least three spectacular saves, most notably a diving save to deny Iliman Ndiaye's low shot in the 38th minute and Pape Gueye's thunderous strike in the 57th minute.
AFCON 2025 Final Match Statistics
| Parameter | Senegal | Morocco |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 1 | 0 |
| Goal scorer | Pape Gueye (94') | But |
| Yellow card | 3 | 2 |
| Penalty for failure | 0 | 1 (Brahim Diaz) |
Despite controlling possession better in the second half thanks to the mobility of Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari, Morocco lacked the necessary sharpness in the final touches. This defeat is a major blow to Moroccan football, especially to Brahim Diaz, who had a brilliant tournament but crumbled at the most crucial moment.
The 1-0 victory against Morocco not only secured Senegal the AFCON 2025 title but also affirmed the resilience of the continent's top team in the most crucial moments of the match.
