Senegal clinched victory in the final of the 2025 AFCON tournament with a 1-0 win over Morocco in a drama-filled match on Sunday night, SportPremi reports.
Pape Gueye scored the title-winning goal in the first half of extra-time which followed a chaotic ending to regular time, where Brahim Diaz had missed a stoppage-time penalty kick.
It marked the Lions of Teranga’s second title following their first win in the 2021 edition and caps off an impressive tournament.
Gueye strike seals victory in drama-filled match
Morocco donned their white away jersey, while Senegal were in their traditional green jersey as both sides marched onto the pitch hoping to make history.
Both sides had previously won the tournament once, but the Lions of Teranga recently lifted the title in 2021, while Morocco’s last win was in the 1970s.
The hosts had not lost a competitive game since 2009 and were unbeaten in 26 games since losing to South Africa in the Round of 16 at the 2023 African Cup of Nations tournament.
Senegal dominated the early stages and almost went ahead after a header from Pape Gueye, but Morocco’s Yaccine Bounou, who was the hero of the shootout win over Nigeria in the semifinals, keeping out his attempt.
Both sides then hit several goalscoring attempts wide off the target, before Bounou produced another brilliant stop to deny Iliman Ndiaye.
The Senegal forward was put through on goal by Nicolas Jackson, but was denied by the outstretched leg of the Atlas Lions goalkeeper.
Morocco’s best chance of the half fell to Natef Aguerd, who missed a header from a brilliant cross by Abde Ezzalzouli, which only required a touch to go in, as the first half ended goalless.
Ayoub El Kaabi wasted a great opportunity to break the deadlock, when he sliced wide after he was picked out by El Khannouss.
The striker was then denied by a brilliant block from Mamadou Sarr, before Ezzalzouli blasted wide from close range.
Ezzalzouli then fired straight at Edouard Mendy after getting on the end of a corner kick from Achraf Hakimi.
Then came the moment of drama, as the center referee awarded Morocco a penalty in stoppage-time after a review on the monitor for a foul on Brahim Diaz.
The decision sparked wild scenes on the pitch, with players from both teams going at each other, before Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw signaled to his players to walk off the pitch.
After several minutes of stoppages, the players returned to the pitch. Diaz picked the ball up with a chance to make history for his country.
The forward attempted a panenka, but Mendy stood his ground and saved the spot-kick to send the game into extra-time.
Pape Gueye struck in the fourth minute of extra-time to put Senegal ahead in a very dramatic encounter.
Morocco then hit the crosssbar through Aguerd later, before Cherif Ndiaye missed an open goal from a rebound, after his initial effort was saved by Bounou.
Senegal however held on for the victory to seal their second AFCON title, breaking the hearts of the home nation.
Players Ratings:
Senegal Players Ratings
- Mendy – 8.6/10
- A. Mendy – 6.9/10
- Sarr – 6.6/10
- Niakhate – 7.4/10
- Diouf – 7.2/10
- Camara – 7.0/10
- I. Gueye – 7.9/10
- P. Gueye – 8.3/10
- Ndiaye – 6.6/10
- Jackson – 6.6/10
- Mane – 7.4/10
Substitutes
- Seck – 6.5/10
- Mbaye – 6.7/10
- Sarr – 6.7/10
- Ndiaye – 5.9/10
- Jacobs – 6.3/10
Morocco Players Ratings
- Bono – 7.8/10
- Mazraoui – 7.3/10
- Masina – 6.7/10
- Aguerd – 6.5/10
- Hakimi – 7.1/10
- Saibari – 6.3/10
- El Aynaoui – 5.4/10
- El Khannouss – 6.5/10
- Diaz – 6.5/10
- Ezzalzouli – 7.2/10
- El Kaabi – 6.1/10
Substitutes
- Targhalline – 6.6/10
- En-Nesyri – 6.6/10
- El Yamiq – 6.7/10
- Salah-Eddine – 7.1/10
- Akhomach – 6.5/10
- Igamane – 6.0/10
Key Stats
Ball Possession: Senegal 50% – 50% Morocco
Total Shots: Senegal 14 – 20 Morocco
Shots on target: Senegal 7 – 3 Morocco
Corners: Senegal 8 – 10 Morocco
