Senegal were crowned champions of Africa for the second time in their history after edging hosts Morocco 1–0 after extra time in a pulsating TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat.
The decisive moment came just three minutes into extra time when Pape Gueye produced a moment of pure brilliance, unleashing a thunderous left-footed strike from the edge of the box that flew beyond goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, silencing a packed stadium and sending the Senegal bench into wild celebration.
The final had been finely poised after a dramatic end to regulation time. Morocco were handed a golden opportunity to win it late on when a VAR review awarded them a penalty, but Senegal goalkeeper Edward Mendy emerged the hero, brilliantly denying Brahim Diaz to force the contest into extra time.
Both sides entered the final with history on their minds. Morocco were chasing a first continental title in more than 50 years, while Senegal were aiming to reclaim the crown they first lifted in 2021.
The Teranga Lions started the match on the front foot, dictating the tempo and carving out the clearer chances in the opening half.
Bounou was called into action early, reacting sharply to keep out Gueye’s back-post header from a corner before producing a superb one-on-one save to deny Iliman Ndiaye.
Morocco’s best chance of the first half arrived moments before the break, when Nayef Aguerd narrowly missed Abdessamad Ezzalzouli’s dangerous cross that flashed across the face of goal.
The Atlas Lions returned from the interval with renewed urgency and intensity. Ayoub El Kaabi was presented with a gilt-edged opportunity after Bilal El Khannouss split the Senegal defence with a perfectly weighted pass, but the striker failed to hit the target.
Despite sustained pressure from the hosts, Senegal remained dangerous on the counter. In the 89th minute, substitute Ibrahim Mbaye curled an effort towards the far corner, only for Bounou to produce another full-stretch save to keep Morocco alive.
With neither side able to find a breakthrough in normal time, extra time followed – and Senegal struck almost immediately.
A turnover in midfield saw Sadio Mané cleverly back-heel the ball into the path of Idrissa Gana Gueye, who released Pape Gueye. Showing strength, composure and precision, the midfielder drove forward before rifling an unstoppable shot into the net.
Morocco threw everything forward in search of an equaliser. Diaz went close to atoning for his penalty miss, only to be denied again by Mendy, while Youssef En-Nesyri came agonisingly close with a diving header that drifted narrowly wide.
Senegal nearly sealed the contest late on, but Bounou once more came to Morocco’s rescue, denying Pape Cherif Ndiaye from close range before the rebound was squandered.
In the end, Senegal’s discipline, resilience and composure proved decisive as they held firm to secure a famous victory, sealing their second AFCON title and reaffirming their status among Africa’s football elite.
