The Champion of AFCON 2025:Lions of Teranga Reign Supreme: Senegal's Champion as AFCON

The Champion of AFCON 2025

The Atlas Lions Roar Again: Morocco's Champion as AFCON Glory Returns After Decades

Lions of Teranga Reign Supreme: Senegal's Champion as AFCON

Ferocity, nerves, and discipline mark every phase of the AFCON: the Morocco vs. Senegal final in Rabat. There is obvious intent from both sides to win right from the outset, but caution comes first, knowing bylines and loopholes will be small after any mistake.

Senegal starts off on the offensive, coming out high and winning quick set pieces. Their best opportunity is a powerful Pape Gueye header, brilliantly saved by Yassine Bounou, presaging a night in which the goalkeepers will have an outsized influence. Sadio Mané is influential down the flank, crossing a couple of dangerous balls into the box, though Morocco is responding with calm possession and structured buildup.

With the game's flow increasing, battle becomes more and more fierce in midfield. The situation is frustrating, as the rhythm of the game is disrupted, and we are witnessing more of the referee's decisions than the actual play while both teams struggle desperately for control. Senegal continues to press, with Iliman Ndiaye tearing down the middle and launching a goalbound shot that Morocco’s Bounou keeps out with another stunning reflex save to keep it level. Ndiaye eventually takes a bruising shot, and Senegal has to pause its march forward.

Morocco’s biggest threat comes from set pieces, but their star player on the day, Abde Ezzalzouli’s crosses, do not worry the Senegalese rearguard too much. There are slim pickings from open play, a wide Ismael Saibari and a good run by Ezzalzouli just fizzling out. It's starting to get a bit scrappy out there as the challenges fly in, and we're beginning to see that in bookings – a product of the increased physicality of play.

Senegal are pressing, and Morocco are threatening, but no team is able to find the breakthrough at this stage. The last is a goalless tie, finely poised and hot, an edgy heavyweight fight in which one moment of inspiration or idiocy may decide who is Africa’s champion.

Every pass is contested, every tackle fierce. Players from both sides fight relentlessly, driven by the hunger to claim the first goal and assert dominance. Senegal presses hard, striking more frequently and pushing Morocco deeper into defence, testing its resilience and composure.

Yet Morocco refuses to yield. With firm resolve, they hit back, regrouping with explosive energy. Their comeback is aggressive, fuelled by belief and national pride. In a decisive moment, Morocco breaks through, seizing the opportunity and achieving the goal that ignites the stadium and changes the course of the match.

The match persists, yet the message remains unmistakable: it is not merely a game, but a battle fuelled by determination, passion, and an unwavering quest for African glory.

The score is tied at halftime in Rabat after a closely contested first 40 minutes. Morocco concluded the match strongly, securing several late corners. However, the Senegal defence blocked the efforts of Abde Ezzalzouli and Ismael Saibari, and they headed away crosses. Late into stoppage time, Achraf Hakimi opted for a short corner as the hosts attempted to score their first goal. The Senegal attacker recovers, however, and play is allowed to continue. The match remains goalless, yet it is brimming with quality and intensity as we enter the second half.

We’re underway again at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah for the AFCON final. Morocco begins the second half eager to build on their momentum from the end of the first half, while Senegal has regrouped after allowing Morocco to apply pressure before halftime. With the trophy in play and margins so slim, the next goal—should it come—will be huge. Stick with us for ongoing drama in Rabat.

It's a faster pace in the second half. Senegal is now starting to see more of the ball and get forward on the flanks, as El Hadji Malick Diouf delivered a dangerous cross that had to be cleared. Morocco still looks dangerous from set pieces – Achraf Hakimi has already tested the Senegal rearguard with a couple of corners and a well-struck free kick that thumped into the wall. Some fouls are starting to crop up now as both teams scrap for control, illustrating the tetchy beauty of a final that is still hanging in the balance with parity unbroken.

The finals are opening up. Morocco has struggled to break free, with Ayoub El Kaabi coming within inches of connecting with a delivery twice, and Abde Ezzalzouli shooting over the goal after the ball came to him inside the box. Senegal is advancing forward in response, but their final pass is slightly inaccurate. El Hadji Malick Diouf and Neil El Aynaoui are experiencing physical strain as the game intensifies. Morocco appears to be experimenting with wide passes for Achraf Hakimi, while the Senegal backline remains resolute in a tense match that lacks a definitive conclusion.

As the AFCON final draws to a close, decisions are being made at both benches. Morocco makes substitutions to bring in fresh players, sending on Youssef En-Nesyri and Oussama Targhalline, while Senegal responds with a triple substitution, introducing Ismaila Sarr, Ibrahim Mbaye, and Abdoulaye Seck in hopes of a late surge. Achraf Hakimi remains Morocco’s primary attacking threat from deep areas, while Senegal defends with unwavering discipline. As time runs out, the stadium is tense because no one has created that magic moment.

The tension is mounting in Rabat as the fourth official indicates EIGHT minutes of stoppage time. Morocco is banging at the door, with Abde Ezzalzouli coming close twice—defeated by Edouard Mendy in a brave save from point-blank range—and then firing just over the crossbar moments later. The hosts are piling on the pressure; Senegal have everybody except for Ndiaye back behind the ball, and they're just trying to ride out the storm. Injuries have slowed the pace, substitutions have disrupted the rhythm, and this final is still in the balance as the clock ticks down and extra time threatens unless there is a moment of genuine heroism.

VAR (Video Assistant Referee) is checking for a penalty after another person comes together in the area. In the lead-up to that moment, Morocco applied immense pressure in a series of corners, but the Senegalese defence held strong. Late in the game, Senegal's Cherif Ndiaye replaces Sy, while Morocco brings on Anass Salah-Eddine. The outcome is uncertain due to the upcoming VAR decision.

Deep into stoppage time in this AFCON final, remarkable events unfold. An armistice is called after some VAR, and Morocco finally has a penalty for a foul in the box, which gets the Atlas Lions on their feet and Senegal at them.

It’s Brahim Díaz who takes on the pressure with his nation watching—but it’s met by Edouard Mendy. The Senegal goalkeeper doesn’t take the bait and saves Díaz’s spot-kick, sparking scenes of wild celebration on the Senegal bench.

The penalty keeps the final scoreless, and suddenly this contest is hanging by a thread as the seconds tick away in absurd added time.

The AFCON final finally sparked into life in extra time. Sent into delirium. The lead is doubled in spectacular fashion by Pape Gueye three minutes before the break, as he waltzes around defenders to let fly with a peach of a volley from outside the box that curls into the top right corner. Bono is planted, knowing Senegal are up 1–0 in the final.

Morocco responds with urgency. Brahim Díaz has a pop at the roof of the net for Milan, and Edouard Mendy stands tall again to save the day once more for Chelsea.

The tension is sky-high as Morocco presses for an equaliser and Senegal digs deep to hold on, now just minutes away from continental glory in a final that has provided drama and controversy—and now a breakthrough.

Morocco are throwing everything they have in their quest for an equaliser as extra time ticks down. Youssef En-Nesyri comes very close to scoring as he leaps highest in the area to meet a cross, but his firm header whistles just wide of Senegal’s left post, prompting a massive sigh of relief from the visitors.

Edouard Mendy remains key, this time denying En-Nesyri moments earlier following a perfectly weighted through ball from Abde Ezzalzouli, but he also needs treatment after clashing with the Morocco striker. The Senegal keeper gets up quickly, to the relief of his back line.

Walid Regragui rolls the dice, throwing on some fresh legs in the form of Brahim Díaz and Noussair Mazraoui, who come out as Senegal tries to control the pace: Sadio Mané tries to release pressure with his probing passes.

The hosts are dominating the game, but with little time remaining, Senegal still leads and is getting closer to AFCON glory.

In the opening moments of the second period of extra time, Morocco came agonisingly close to equalising. From a corner, Nayef Aguerd climbs highest near the penalty spot and thumps a header that smashes off of the crossbar—the closest the hosts have come to salvaging this final.

Achraf Hakimi and Ilias Akhomach are delivering dangerous set pieces into the Senegal 18-yard box as Morocco presses, while Senegal responds with a substitution of their own, bringing on Ismail Jakobs to strengthen the left side.

We've played the first period of extra time, and Senegal still lead ever so slightly, but Morocco are on top now. With every corner and cross, the tension in the stadium intensifies, creating a sense of a tight finish.

The latter stages of extra time are getting tense and a little physical. Mamadou Sarr is shown a yellow for a reckless challenge, and then Youssef En Nesyri gets one after a late foul, signifying the escalating desperation on both ends.

It was a massive let-off for the hosts as Senegal came so close to putting the result beyond doubt, just moments after bouncing back from Khalifa’s opening goal when Cherif Ndiaye had space inside the box and was brilliantly denied by Morocco’s goalkeeper before dragging his shot wide of goal.

Morocco are continuing to threaten from set pieces, but Edouard Mendy remains solid and is collecting crosses with confidence as he comes off his line. Senegal is defending deeply, Morocco is throwing everything forward, and the AFCON final is heading for a grandstand finish.