Senegal were crowned champions of Africa on Sunday night after defeating hosts Morocco 1–0 in extra time in a dramatic Africa Cup of Nations final overshadowed by controversy, crowd trouble, and late officiating drama at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
The decisive moment came early in extra time when Pape Gueye struck a stunning winner, silencing a partisan crowd of over 66,000 and breaking Moroccan hearts after a match that had swung wildly in momentum.
The victory handed Senegal their second AFCON title in three tournaments, confirming their status as one of the continent’s dominant football forces.
The game’s most explosive episode unfolded deep into stoppage time at the end of regulation.
With the clock well beyond the initially announced added minutes, Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty following a VAR review, ruling that Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf had fouled Brahim Diaz in the area.
The decision triggered furious reactions. Senegal players protested aggressively, while Moroccan players and officials crowded the referee demanding clarity.
The prolonged delay lasting nearly 20 minutes, heightened tensions inside the stadium.
When Diaz eventually stepped up to take the kick, the pressure proved overwhelming.
His attempted chip was poorly executed and comfortably saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, whose calm intervention became a turning point in the final.
As Senegal players briefly walked off the pitch in protest of the penalty award, unrest broke out among a section of their supporters.
Chairs and other objects were thrown, and some fans attempted to breach security barriers before police and stewards restored order.
Relief and jubilation followed moments later when Mendy denied Diaz, allowing the match to proceed into extra time.
The flashpoint followed another contentious moment only minutes earlier, when Senegal thought they had scored in stoppage time through Ismaila Sarr, only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul during the build-up.
Gueye delivers the knockout blow
Buoyed by the penalty reprieve, Senegal emerged from the restart with renewed belief.
Just four minutes into extra time, Sadio Mané disrupted Morocco’s midfield and fed Idrissa Gana Gueye, who released Pape Gueye into space.
The Villarreal midfielder powered forward, shrugged off Moroccan captain Achraf Hakimi, and unleashed a superb strike that flew past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou into the top corner.
The goal stunned the home crowd and left Moroccan players visibly shattered. Diaz, still reeling from his earlier miss, was soon substituted.
Morocco pushed desperately for an equaliser and came agonisingly close when defender Nayef Aguerd headed against the crossbar in the second half of extra time.
That effort summed up a frustrating night for the Atlas Lions, who were hoping to end a 50-year wait for continental glory on home soil.
Senegal nearly doubled their advantage late on when Cherif Ndiaye missed a clear chance, but the defending champions held firm through the closing minutes to secure victory.
The triumph marks Senegal’s second AFCON title, following their maiden success in 2022 when they defeated Egypt on penalties.
Remarkably, Pape Gueye’s strike was Senegal’s first ever goal in an AFCON final, after failing to score in their previous three appearances in the tournament’s showpiece match.
Attention will now turn to the aftermath of the disorder that marred the final, with investigations expected into the conduct of players, supporters, and match organisers.
For Senegal, celebrations will continue as they prepare for the World Cup in the United States later this year, while uncertainty surrounds the international future of captain Sadio Mané, who has indicated this final may have been his last AFCON appearance.
For Morocco, the defeat was a cruel ending to an impressive campaign—one that saw many fans leave the stadium early on a cold, wet Rabat night, unable to witness the final whistle of a heartbreaking loss.
