Senegal have been crowned champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a tense and chaotic final against host nation Morocco in Rabat.

The match was played on a cold, wet night and was marked by controversy after Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a disputed penalty following a VAR review. The decision sparked protests from the Senegal team, who briefly walked off the pitch, leading to an almost 20-minute delay.

Calm was restored late in normal time when Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy saved a Panenka attempt from Real Madrid winger Brahim Díaz with the final kick of regulation time. Although he would later receive the Golden Boots honour, his penalty miss had US celebrity streamer IShowSpeed, who saw the game live, stunned.

Meanwhile, the save eased tensions among Senegalese supporters, some of whom had earlier thrown objects and attempted to invade the pitch in protest.

| Paul Ellis/AFP (Pic):

In extra time, Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal in the first half, sealing a 1–0 victory for the Teranga Lions at the 66,000-seat Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

The win gives Senegal their second AFCON title in the last three tournaments, following their maiden triumph in 2022 when they defeated Egypt on penalties in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Notably, Gueye’s strike was the first goal Senegal have ever scored in an AFCON final, having failed to score in their previous three final appearances.

Senegal will now turn their attention to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in June.