Senegal defeated Morocco in a thrilling final to win their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations championship. They capped off their win with a tight 1-0 scoreline victory at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. In a match marked by dramatic moments and controversial calls, Pape Gueye emerged as the hero for Senegal, scoring the decisive goal deep into extra time.
The tension was palpable throughout the match, culminating in Gueye’s remarkable strike in the 94th minute, ensuring Senegal’s victory. Though the Senegalese squad achieved a historic victory, the match was not without its difficulties for the team. Earlier in the contest, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy made a critical save against Morocco’s Brahim Diaz during a penalty attempt awarded after a VAR review. El Hadji Malick Diouf had made a marvelous run up the left flank before challenging Diaz in the 94th minute of stoppage time. Consequently, the penalty was awarded late in regular time, just before the buzzer sounded.
As the minutes discarded on the clock, Senegal’s players became ever more agitated. In protest of increasing lack of favorable calls—the last straw being a string of questionable referee calls—they stormed off the pitch. In that chaos, Sadio Mane and Senegal proudly raised the trophy, bringing home the country’s first title after decades of near-misses. This victory is Senegal’s second Africa Cup of Nations championship in the past three editions of the tournament. They had won the last edition in 2022, beating Egypt.
Her goals helped attract a record attendance of 66,526 fans, who fought through a frigid, rainy evening to see the final and support the home team. Sadly, a portion of those fans exited the stadium before the final whistle. Still, they missed the emotional high point of what was otherwise a thrilling triumph of a night for Morocco.
Senegal striker Sadio Mane has already declared this final will be his last Africa Cup of Nations appearance. The 40-year-old Brazilian superstar’s future in the tournament now hangs in the balance. His influence on the pitch is reflected in Senegal’s recent run of success, winning the AFCON title in 2021 and this year’s World Cup qualifying campaign.
