RABAT, Morocco, January – Senegal is the new champion of the Total Energies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 after edging out host Morocco in a dramatic finale in front of a sold-out crowd of 68,095 at the capacity-seater Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday, 18th January.
The decider was Pape Gueye’s right-footed, ballistic strike that oozed past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou before nestling in the far left corner in the 94th minute of extra time.
Earlier, the two North and West African footballing giants missed several glorious chances in regular time, leading to epic incidents in the dying minutes.
In the 93rd minute, Teranga Lions had their goal disallowed by Jean-Jacques Ndala, the DR Congo centre referee who had also officiated the first match of the tourney between Morocco and Comoros.
Moments later, there was heightened tension both on and off the field when the referee awarded the Atlas Lions a penalty after a tackle by Senegal full-back El Hadji Malick Diouf on Morocco’s Brahim Diaz inside the box.
This was after a lengthy Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review in the 98th minute for an infringement in the box. This decision, however, provoked the ire of the Senegalese, who staged a mass walk-off in protest.
Sadio Mane rose to the occasion, showing footballing sportsmanship by convincing his teammates and the technical bench to continue with play after a 14-minute stoppage.
With renewed courage and determination, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saved Morocco’s talisman Brahim Diaz, who tried a Panenka shot (chips the penalty), sparking wild cheers and jeers from the ecstatic Senegalese fans.
He denied Diaz the chance to match his one goal away from matching Ahmed Faras’ AFCON record for Morocco.
Morocco came close to equalising when Nayef Aguerd’s powerful header hit the crossbar from a corner. In the dying minutes, Senegal substitute Cherif Ndiaye could have sealed the game beyond his opponents’ reach when his ferocious strike was parried away by Bounou, but in the rebound build-up he missed a sitter by shooting wide, failing to tap into an empty net.
Senegal’s historic trophy win marks their second in the CAF AFCON finals, having first won it against the Pharaohs of Egypt in a penalty shootout (4-3) in 2021. Morocco missed a second cup glory, as they still have to wait to repeat their 1976 success.
In their road to the tournament finals, Senegal topped Group D after beating Sudan 3-1, edging Mali 1-0, and then defeating Egypt 1-0 thanks to Sadio Mane’s 78th-minute 18-yard shot.
On the other hand, Morocco led Group A by edging Tanzania, beating Cameroon 2-0, then holding Nigeria to 0-0 before winning on penalties.
The winners were awarded $10 million, the runners-up $5 million, and third and fourth place shared $5 million. The Super Eagles of Nigeria took home the bronze after defeating Egypt in the penultimate penalty shootout.
Despite his penalty blooper, Diaz was crowned the Puma Golden Boot winner of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, with five goals.
The next edition of the CAF AFCON 2027 Cup Finals will be co-hosted by the trio of East African countries: Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
