Chaos and Glory: How Senegal Beat Morocco in Historic AFCON 2025 Final

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 final delivered both drama and controversy as Senegal stunned hosts Morocco 1-0 in extra time to clinch the prestigious continental title - in a match that will be remembered for its tumultuous late-game scenes as much as the football.

Held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, the encounter was tense and cagey for much of normal time. Despite both sides creating chances, the score remained level heading into stoppage time and that’s when the controversy erupted. After a corner, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a last-gasp penalty following a VAR check, ruling that Senegal’s El Hadji Malick Diouf had fouled Brahim Díaz in the box.

What followed was extraordinary: Senegal’s coach Pape Bouna Thiaw ordered his players off the pitch in protest, prompting confusion and a prolonged delay of over 14 minutes while officials tried to restore order. Fans in the stadium became increasingly restless, with some confrontations between stewards and spectators.

Eventually, Senegal’s captain, Sadio Mané, convinced his teammates to return to the field. When the penalty was finally taken, Díaz attempted an audacious Panenka which was poorly executed and comfortably saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, keeping the match scoreless and forcing extra time.

Extra time brought a dramatic twist. Just three minutes after the restart, Pape Gueye seized the moment receiving a pass from Idrissa Gana Gueye, holding off defenders, and unleashing a powerful left-footed strike into the top corner past Morocco keeper Yassine Bounou. The goal not only sealed Senegal’s victory but also marked a historic moment for the team on African football’s biggest stage.

The dramatic scenes didn’t overshadow the significance of Senegal’s achievement: this was their second AFCON title in three editions, establishing them as one of the dominant forces in African football. Conversely, the defeat extended Morocco’s long wait for a second AFCON triumph; their last title came in 1976.

Reactions to the match were mixed. Senegal’s players hailed their grit and composure, especially in dealing with the emotional roller-coaster of the penalty incident and protest walk-off. Mendy reflected that “football won in the end,” pointing to resilience and unity after the game. However, Morocco’s coach Walid Regragui criticized the conduct of Senegal’s team, calling the chaos “shameful” and lamenting the controversy’s impact on the game’s image.

Fans and pundits debated the referee’s decisions, the appropriateness of the protest, and the missed penalty with some insisting that the controversial call changed the trajectory of the match. Amid lively celebrations in Dakar and across Senegal, observers also cautioned that CAF (the Confederation of African Football) might review the conduct of both teams and the officiating after the final.

Ultimately, the AFCON 2025 final will be remembered as one of the most dramatic in the tournament’s history: a night of tension, controversy, brilliant goalkeeping, and a spectacular extra-time winner that crowned Senegal African champions under extraordinary circumstances.