The Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 final between Senegal and hosts Morocco was decided in dramatic and controversial fashion on Sunday January 18 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, as the Teranga Lions claimed a second continental crown with an extra time victory that will be remembered as much for the chaos as the football. After a turbulent contest filled with disputed decisions, missed chances and prolonged stoppages, Senegal emerged victorious thanks to a decisive extra time goal from Pape Gueye, extending Morocco’s wait for an AFCON title to 50 years.
Senegal were dealt an early setback before kick off when right back Krepin Diatta was injured during the warm up, forcing Antoine Mendy into the starting lineup. Despite the disruption, Senegal began brightly and nearly took the lead in the fifth minute when Sadio Mane surged down the left to win a corner. The delivery dropped invitingly for Pape Gueye, whose close range header was superbly saved by Yassine Bounou after the goalkeeper initially misjudged the flight of the ball.
Morocco responded through Abde Ezzalzouli, who caused problems down the left flank throughout the opening period. His low cross in the eighth minute was cleared at the far post by Diouf, and moments later he slipped in Ismael Saibari, whose cross was cut out before Saibari fired wide from the edge of the area. Senegal continued to threaten and came close again in the 37th minute when Nicolas Jackson split the Morocco defence with a perfectly weighted pass to Iliman Ndiaye. The forward drove toward goal and aimed for the far corner, but Bounou produced an outstanding save with his outstretched leg.
Morocco’s best chance of the first half arrived shortly before the interval when Ezzalzouli delivered a delightful inswinging cross toward Nayif Aguerd. Unmarked eight yards out, the defender failed to make contact and watched the ball drift past the far post. The first half ended with both sides trading half chances, Senegal looking the sharper while Morocco relied heavily on Ezzalzouli’s creativity.
After the break, Morocco grew in confidence and wasted a golden opportunity in the 58th minute. El Khannouss produced a sublime pass that took out the entire Senegal defence, but Youssef En Nesyri El Kaabi sliced his left footed effort narrowly wide from six yards. El Kaabi was involved again five minutes later following a swift counter attack, but Mamadou Sarr’s sliding block denied him before Ezzalzouli fired the rebound off target.
The match became increasingly tense as the second half wore on. Morocco finally registered a shot on target in the 81st minute when Hakimi’s cross found Ezzalzouli unmarked, but his volley was comfortably saved by Edouard Mendy. In the closing moments of normal time, both sides had late chances as substitute Mbaye forced another save from Bounou before Ezzalzouli blazed over at the other end.
What followed was a chaotic and controversial end to regulation time. Appeals for penalties, disallowed goals, lengthy stoppages and heated confrontations between players and benches dominated the closing stages. Deep into stoppage time, Brahim Diaz stepped up to take a softly awarded penalty but saw his Panenka calmly caught by Mendy, further inflaming tensions and delaying the conclusion of the ninety minutes.
Extra time began with Senegal seizing the moment. In the 94th minute, Morocco lost possession near halfway and Senegal broke with purpose. The ball eventually found Pape Gueye, who drove to the edge of the area and unleashed a powerful left footed strike into the far corner to give Senegal the breakthrough they had worked so hard to earn.
Morocco pushed desperately for an equaliser and came agonisingly close in the 108th minute when Aguerd rose highest to meet a corner, crashing a header against the crossbar from close range. Senegal nearly doubled their lead soon after as Ndiaye was denied by another fine save from Bounou before inexplicably putting the rebound wide with the goal at his mercy.
After a final filled with controversy, drama and extraordinary scenes, Senegal held firm to secure a historic triumph and lift the Africa Cup of Nations for the second time. It was Senegal’s fourth appearance in an AFCON final and their first since 2021, while Morocco fell short in their second final and first since 2004. The result means the Atlas Lions long wait for continental glory continues, while Senegal celebrate another chapter in their growing AFCON legacy.
