Senegal lifted the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy following a dramatic 1-0 victory over hosts Morocco, courtesy of Pape Gueye’s decisive strike in extra time. The final, held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, was marred by chaos, including a controversial penalty and pitch protests that briefly interrupted play.
The match could have swung in Morocco’s favor deep into stoppage time. Real Madrid winger Brahim Diaz was awarded a penalty in the 24th minute of added time after a VAR review for a challenge by Senegal’s El Hadji Malick Diouf. However, Diaz’s attempted ‘Panenka’ was comfortably saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, whose crucial stop galvanized the visitors.
“The penalty miss gave us hope,” said match-winner Gueye. “Sadio Mane told us to return to the pitch, and we stayed focused. Edouard made the save, we stayed concentrated, and then we scored the goal that won the game.”
Earlier, Senegal had been incensed after a goal by Ismaila Sarr in the second added minute was disallowed for a foul, sparking temporary protests and leaving the team storming off the pitch. Fans at the opposite end of the stadium escalated tensions by throwing chairs and attempting to access the field, though police and stewards quickly contained the situation.
Gueye Seizes the Moment
Extra time proved decisive. In the fourth minute, Sadio Mane intercepted a pass in midfield and found Idrissa Gana Gueye, who released Pape Gueye. The Villarreal midfielder calmly advanced into the box and struck a stunning shot into the top corner past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, securing Senegal’s second AFCON title in three editions.
Morocco still had a chance to equalize, with Nayef Aguerd hitting the crossbar in the second half of extra time, but the hosts were unable to find a breakthrough. The defeat denied Morocco a first continental title in 50 years on home soil.
Senegal’s triumph cements their place among Africa’s football elite. They had previously won their maiden AFCON trophy in 2022 by defeating Egypt on penalties in Yaoundé. The victory also signals optimism for Senegal heading into the World Cup, although star forward Sadio Mane has indicated this may have been his final AFCON appearance.
Reflecting on the disorderly scenes, Morocco coach Walid Regragui admitted, “The image we gave of African football was rather shameful. Having to stop the game for more than 10 minutes with the world watching is not very classy.” Investigations are expected to review the conduct of both Senegal’s players and fans, as well as organizational measures by the host authorities.
Despite the controversy, Senegal’s win marks a historic moment. Pape Gueye’s goal was the first ever scored by Senegal in an AFCON final, highlighting the team’s resilience and ability to deliver on the continental stage.
