Senegal Clinch Second AFCON Title After Extra Time Thriller

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat was always destined for drama, but few could have predicted the wild, emotional rollercoaster that unfolded at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on January 18, 2026. Senegal, the reigning champions, arrived with the weight of expectation and a hunger to cement their golden generation’s legacy. Morocco, playing on home soil and desperate to end a 50-year continental title drought, were determined to seize their moment in front of a roaring home crowd. When the dust settled after 120 pulsating minutes, it was Senegal who stood tall, clinching their second consecutive AFCON crown with a tense 1-0 victory in extra time.

The match had everything: tactical chess, heart-stopping saves, VAR controversy, and a thunderbolt of a goal that will echo in African football history. For the Teranga Lions, it was a night of vindication and celebration, while the Atlas Lions were left to rue missed chances and what-ifs, their wait for a second title stretching into a sixth decade.

Senegal’s starting XI featured Edouard Mendy between the posts, shielded by a defense of Mamadou Sarr, Moussa Niakhaté, El Hadji Malick Diouf, and Pape Alassane Gueye. Captain Idrissa Gana Gueye anchored the midfield alongside Lamine Camara and, initially, Antoine Mendy, with Sadio Mané, Nicolas Jackson, and Iliman Ndiaye leading the attack. Morocco responded with Yassine Bounou in goal, a backline marshaled by captain Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Nayef Aguerd, and Adam Masina. Their midfield trio comprised Ismael Saibari, Bilal El Khannouss, and Neil El Aynaoui, while Brahim Diaz, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, and Ayoub El Kaabi spearheaded the offense.

From kickoff, both sides played with a palpable sense of urgency. Early on, Senegal’s Pape Gueye nearly broke the deadlock, meeting a corner at the far post only for Bounou to scramble his header away. Morocco, after a nervy opening, began to find their rhythm and threatened through Saibari and Ezzalzouli. Still, neither team could carve out a clear advantage in the first half, which ended goalless despite Senegal’s greater possession and several dangerous forays forward.

The second half saw Morocco ramp up the intensity, spurred on by their passionate home support. El Kaabi and Ezzalzouli both came close, while Senegal’s Ndiaye forced another sharp save from Bounou. The match’s physicality ratcheted up, with yellow cards issued to Lamine Camara and others as tempers flared and tackles flew in. A brutal clash of heads left Morocco’s El Aynaoui bloodied but determined to continue, a testament to the commitment on display from both squads.

As regulation time ticked down, the drama reached fever pitch. In the dying moments, VAR intervened to award Morocco a penalty after Brahim Diaz was dragged down by Malick Diouf. The stadium held its breath as Diaz stepped up, only to attempt a cheeky Panenka that was easily caught by Mendy—a moment that will haunt Moroccan fans for years. Senegal’s players, incensed by the decision, briefly left the pitch in protest before Sadio Mané convinced his teammates to return and finish the match. The bizarre sequence left everyone watching in disbelief, with the spirit of the game hanging in the balance.

With the score still level after 90 minutes plus a staggering eight minutes of added time, extra time beckoned. Both coaches made tactical changes: Senegal introduced Ismail Jakobs for the injured Diouf, while Morocco brought on Ilias Akhomach and Hamza Igamane in search of fresh legs and inspiration. The tension was almost unbearable as both teams traded blows—Aguerd thundered a header against the crossbar for Morocco, while Cherif Ndiaye twice came agonizingly close for Senegal, only to be denied by Bounou’s heroics.

Then, in the 94th minute of extra time, came the moment that decided it all. Idrissa Gueye surged forward on a fast break and laid the ball off for Pape Gueye, who unleashed a left-footed rocket from the edge of the box that screamed into the top right corner. The Senegal fans erupted, their team now just minutes away from a second continental title. Morocco threw everything forward in response, peppering the Senegal area with crosses and shots, but the Teranga Lions’ defense—bolstered by Mendy’s commanding presence—held firm.

As the final whistle blew after 120+4’ minutes, Senegal’s bench exploded onto the pitch in celebration. Pape Gueye, the match-winner, was mobbed by teammates, while Morocco’s players slumped to the turf, devastated. The statistics told the story of a fiercely contested final: multiple substitutions, tactical fouls, and yellow cards; heroic saves from both goalkeepers; and a crowd of over 60,000 witnessing history unfold. The tournament, which spanned from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, featured 24 teams, 52 matches, and over 1.2 million fans in attendance across Morocco, but it was Senegal who had the final say.

“Senegal will party long into the night as they add the 2025 AFCON to their 2021 triumph,” reported AfricanFootball.com. “Morocco were magnificent hosts, but their wait for another AFCON crown extends into a sixth decade.” The hosts’ frustration was palpable, with many feeling the match was “tainted by bad sportsmanship,” referencing the walk-off threats and the delay before Diaz’s penalty. Yet, for Senegal, the night was about resilience, belief, and a moment of brilliance when it mattered most.

Morocco’s journey, despite the heartbreak, was filled with promise. They had edged Nigeria on penalties in the semifinals and played bold, attacking football throughout the tournament. Their young talents, including El Khannouss and Ezzalzouli, will surely return stronger. For Senegal, the victory cements their place among Africa’s footballing elite, with stars like Sadio Mané, Idrissa Gueye, and Edouard Mendy delivering when the pressure was highest.

As the confetti settled and the trophy was lifted under the Rabat night sky, the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations ended with a story worthy of its grandest stage. Senegal’s golden generation had achieved immortality, while Morocco’s dreams were dashed—at least for now. Football, as ever, delivered a final to remember.