Senegal shock hosts Morocco to win AFCON title after extra time

Hosts Morocco were left stunned on Sunday after a dramatic finish ended with Senegal winning the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following a 1-0 victory after extra time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Pape Gueye’s goal early in extra time stood as the winning moment for the West Africans.

A dramatic finish to normal time ended with a VAR review and Morocco star Brahim Díaz failing to convert a penalty kick. A strike from distance by Gueye early in extra time gave Senegal a stunning lead and the hosts could not find a way back. The Lions of Teranga now have two AFCON titles in their history, both of which have come in the last three editions.

Morocco, meanwhile, suffered their first defeat since losing to South Africa at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in the Round of 16 in January 2024. The result ends a 24-match unbeaten streak for the Atlas Lions since that defeat and is also their first defeat on home soil since November 2009.

The match had all the tension that arrives with finals. Both teams were cautious with the center of the pitch congested, limiting the majority of attacks to the flanks. Senegal looked a bit more dangerous and nearly took the lead in the 5th minute when a corner kick found Pape Gueye at the far post. However, Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou recovered to make the save.

The Lions of Teranga then had the best chance of the first half when Iliman Ndiaye was played in on the right wing, but Bounou produced a brilliant kick save to leave the teams scoreless at halftime.

With their attack contained in the first half, the hosts came out with more purpose after halftime. A quick attack down the right flank from the North Africans in the 58th minute resulted in an excellent cross from Bilal El Khannouss, but striker Ayoub El Kaabi flicked his finish just wide.

The teams exchanged opportunities late on with Senegal substitute Ibrahim Mbaye drawing a save from Bounou, setting the stage for the drama deep into second half stoppage time. Following the disputed foul that resulted in a penalty kick, the Senegal players walked off the pitch in protest before captain Sadio Mané called his teammates to return from the changing room.

But that was only the first in a series of dramatic moments. After a long delay and the return of the Senegalese team to the pitch, Díaz boldly attempted a chipped spot kick down the middle and goalkeeper Édouard Mendy was not fooled as he made an easy catch.

And the hosts never recovered. In only the fourth minute of extra time, the Senegalese executed well in transition to set up an opportunity for Pape Gueye. After receiving a pass from Idrissa Gana Gueye, the Villarreal midfielder held off a defender and his accurate shot went past Bounou and off the crossbar into the goal to stun the crowd into silence.

Plenty of action remained. The hosts rattled the crossbar from a set piece and Senegal substitute forward Cherif Ndiaye missed a golden opportunity to finish things off. In the end, the strong Senegalese defense finished the job in an historic moment for the West African nation.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐀 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒. 🇸🇳🏆#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/6nTRDNmKDs

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 18, 2026