Senegal wins AFCON 2025 after a chaotic final against Morocco

Senegal secured a narrow 1-0 victory over hosts Morocco in the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Sunday night.

Senegal got off to a fast start and almost took an early lead after Papa Gueye met Lamine Camara’s delivery from a corner, but Yassine Bounou saved his header.

At the other end, Ismael Saibari wriggled his way to the area from midfield and tried his luck from range, but his shot went well over the bar.

Iliman Ndiaye could’ve broken the deadlock in the 37th minute after Nicolas Jackson played him through on goal, but the Everton man couldn’t beat Bounou in goal, whose outstretched leg kept his effort out.

Just before the break, Morocco responded with a chance of their own when Saibari whipped in a cross into the area, but Nayef Aguerd failed to connect, and the chance went begging.

Minutes after the restart, Ayoub El Kaabi squandered a glorious opportunity to open the scoring after Bilal El Khannouss found him with a low cross, but the forward sliced his effort just wide.

Just past the hour mark, Brahim Diaz played El Kaabi through on goal, but he saw his effort blocked before Abde Ezzalzouli blasted over the rebound.

At the other end, Papa Gueye dragged his volley wide from the edge of the area as both sides searched for the opener.

On the stroke of full time, teenage substitute Ibrahim Mbaye skipped past his marker and curled his effort to the far post, but Bounou was equal to it.

Moments later, Ismaila Sarr thought he had given the Teranga Lions the lead after he headed the ball home from a corner, but the goal was ruled out for a foul on Achraf Hakimi in the build-up.

Deep into stoppage time, Morocco were awarded a penalty after Diaz went down in the box under a challenge from El Hadji Malick Diouf, and after a VAR review, the spot-kick was given, much to the frustration and protest of the Teranga Lions.

Diaz stepped up to take the spot-kick, but his ‘Panenka’ penalty was comfortably collected by Edouard Mendy.

Gueye broke the deadlock four minutes into extra time, after he skipped past Hakimi and released a belter in off the bar, beyond the outstretched Bounou.

Minutes later, Aguerd had the opportunity to restore parity almost immediately, but his header from Ilias Akhomach’s cross struck the bar.

At the other end, Iliman Ndiaye could’ve sealed the deal for Senegal when Bounou parried Cherif Ndiaye’s effort to his path, but the Everton man missed an open goal.

Moments later Papa Gueye almost produced another screamer, but his effort flew straight into the gloves of Bounou.

Senegal held on and fended off the Atlas Lions’ late surge to win their second ever AFCON title.