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Senegal crash Morocco’s AFCON party

18 January 2026 21:50| © AFP
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Senegal upset 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hosts Morocco in the final in Rabat on Sunday, claiming a 1-0 win after extra time to secure their second continental title.

The Teranga Lions triumphed after Pape Gueye’s goal four minutes into the additional 30, though this final will live long in the memory for a bizarre end to regulation time, in which the Atlas Lions were awarded a controversial penalty, the West Africans threatened a walk-off, only to return to witness Brahim Diaz – the individual star of the tournament – miss the spot kick in almost comical fashion.

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Senegal had the first chance of the match just five minutes in, with Pape Gueye meeting a corner kick and heading goal-wards, but Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou managed to claw the ball away from the danger zone.

The West Africans enjoyed a lot of possession through the first half, effectively quieting the home crowd and frustrating their opponents. They had a great scoring opportunity in the 38th minute when Iliman Ndiaye went free down the right of the attack and sent a low shot toward the bottom corner of the net, but Bounou made an amazing save with his outstretched right leg to deflect the ball away for a corner kick.

Morocco, meanwhile, struggled to bring the likes of Brahim Diaz and Ismael Saibari into the game, and their only real chance of the first half came in the 41st minute when Abde Ezzalzouli found Nayef Aguerd with a cross from the left, but the defender was unable to direct a header on target.

However, the Atlas Lions played with more intent and intensity in the second stanza and should have gone ahead just before the hour mark when Bilal El Khannouss played in a superb cross from the right to pick out Ayoub El Kaabi, but the striker directed his shot wide when it seemed easier to score.

Senegal gradually reclaimed control in the latter stages of the second half, with substitute Ibrahim Mbaye drawing a fine save from Bounou with a shot from the edge of the penalty area in the final minute of regulation time, before the West Africans hit the back of the net after a corner kick but had the effort ruled out for a foul by Abdoulaye Seck.

Extra time seemed inevitable, but deep into the eight added minutes at the end of the 90, Brahim Diaz was dragged down by Malick Diouf in the 18-yard area at a corner kick – with a VAR review from referee Jean-Jacques Ndala confirming a spot kick.

Senegal then threatened a walk-off (angered that their goal was disallowed, with the penalty awarded shortly thereafter), with a lengthy wait for the penalty to be taken, featuring repeated arguments between players, officials and technical teams members. Sadio Mane then showed leadership and dignity by convincing his teammates to resume the match.

Diaz himself took the spot kick and attempted a Panenka penalty, but Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy stayed still in the middle of the goal and made an easy save – a truly astonishing and surreal finish to regulation time (which had run 25 minutes over by the time the fulltime whistle was blown!).

Morocco appeared to have been mentally devastated by the penalty miss, and Senegal claimed the lead four minutes into the extra 30, with midfielder Pape Gueye crashing home a thunderous left-footed drive via the underside of the crossbar.

The host nation roused themselves in the second half of extra time and almost levelled in the 108th minute via Aguerd, who hit the crossbar with a header from a corner kick.

Yet that was as close as Morocco came to getting back into the game, with Senegal able to see out the remainder of extra time and secure a bizarre triumph.

Senegal (0) 0 (1) (P. Gueye 94’)

Morocco 0

After extra time

Senegal: E. Mendy, A. Mendy (A. Seck 77’), M. Sarr, M. Niakhite, M. Diouf (I. Jakobs 106’), I. Gueye, L. Camara (I. Sarr 77’), P. Gueye, I. Ndiaye (I. Mbaye 77’), S. Mane, N. Jackson (C. Ndiaye 90+3’)

Morocco: Y. Bounou, A. Hakimi, N. Aguerd, A. Masina (J. El Yamiq 89’), N. Mazraoui (H. Igamane 98’), N. El Aynaoui, A. Ezzalzouli, B. El Khannouss (O. Targhalline 80’), B. Diaz (I. Akomach 98’), I. Saibari (A. Salah-Eddine 90+4’), A. El Kaabi (Y. En Nesyri 80’)

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