Senegal were crowned Africa Cup of Nations champions after one of the most chaotic and controversial finals in the tournament’s history, edging hosts Morocco 1–0 after extra time following extraordinary scenes at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Midfielder Pape Gueye struck a thunderous winner in the 94th minute to seal Senegal’s second AFCON title, moments after Real Madrid star Brahim Díaz squandered a golden opportunity to win the match for Morocco by missing a stoppage-time penalty amid a prolonged delay caused by Senegal’s dramatic walkout in protest.
The final, played before a hostile capacity crowd in Rabat, was finely balanced for much of the night but exploded into controversy late in regulation time. In the 92nd minute, Senegal thought they had taken the lead from a corner, only for Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala to disallow the goal for a foul in the build-up.
Seconds later, matters worsened for the West Africans. After a VAR review, Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty for a challenge by El Hadji Malick Diouf on Díaz during a corner. The decision infuriated the Senegal bench, and head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw ordered his players to walk off the pitch in protest, feeling his side had been denied a legitimate goal moments earlier.
What followed were farcical scenes. Players and officials argued on the field, fans attempted to invade the pitch, and police were forced to intervene as the delay stretched to nearly 20 minutes. Senegal captain Sadio Mané emerged as the calming influence, pleading with his teammates to return and finish the match.
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Once play resumed, Morocco retained the penalty. Díaz stepped up with the chance to become a national hero, but his audacious Panenka attempt was calmly saved by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, leaving the stadium stunned and the Moroccan forward in tears.
The miss proved decisive.
With momentum suddenly on their side, Senegal began extra time with renewed belief. Just four minutes in, Pape Gueye collected the ball outside the area, surged forward, and unleashed a fierce long-range strike that flew past Yassine Bounou and into the net, sparking wild celebrations among Senegal’s players and fans.
Morocco pushed desperately for an equaliser, rattling the crossbar and forcing several saves from Mendy, but Senegal held firm to secure a famous and emotional victory.
After the match, Thiaw admitted his mistake in ordering the walkout and apologised for his actions.
“I reacted in the heat of the moment,” he said. “After reflecting, I realised I shouldn’t have asked my players to leave the field. We accept that referees make mistakes, and I apologise to football.”
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Morocco coach Walid Regragui was less forgiving, accusing Thiaw of damaging the image of African football.
“The image we gave was shameful,” he said. “A coach asking his players to leave the pitch does not honour Africa.”
Despite the controversy, Senegal’s triumph capped a resilient campaign and confirmed their status as one of the continent’s dominant forces, winning their second AFCON title and their second in three tournaments. For Morocco, the defeat extended their long wait for continental glory, with their only AFCON success still dating back nearly 50 years.
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In the end, amid chaos, controversy and heartbreak, it was Senegal who kept their composure when it mattered most- and were rewarded with Africa’s biggest prize.
