After a tense and tightly contested 90 minutes that ended 0-0, the match saw its fair share of twists and emotional moments. Deep into stoppage time, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a controversial penalty following a VAR review for a soft foul on Brahim DÃaz. The decision enraged the Senegalese side, prompting coach Pape Thiaw to order his players off the pitch in protest as stadium tensions rose. Senegal’s captain Sadio Mané eventually convinced his teammates to return to the field after a roughly 13-minute stoppage, and Morocco’s penalty attempt by DÃaz was saved by Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy.
With the match still goalless, extra time became necessary. In the fourth minute of extra time, midfielder Pape Gueye delivered a moment of individual brilliance — unleashing a powerful left-footed strike that beat Morocco’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and sent the Senegalese fans into jubilation. That goal proved to be the decisive one, as Senegal held on to secure a 1-0 victory and lift the AFCON trophy for the second time in their history.
Senegal’s triumph was built on a strong overall campaign. They topped their group with convincing performances — including wins over Botswana (3-0) and Benin (3-0) — before progressing through the knockout stages with a 1-0 semi-final victory over Egypt, where Sadio Mané scored the winner to send his nation into the final.
For Senegal, this victory marks their second continental crown, having previously won their first ever AFCON title in 2021, when they beat Egypt on penalties. This latest success further cements Senegal’s position as one of Africa’s preeminent footballing nations and caps an incredible run that saw them remain unbeaten through key stages of the tournament.
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