The AFCON 2025 final match between Senegal and Morocco was engulfed in historic and chaotic scenes. Currently, the Lions of Teranga are holding a precarious 1-0 lead in the second half of extra time.
The match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium was marked by a goal denial, a controversial penalty and a temporary abandonment in which the Senegalese squad left the pitch in protest.
Senegal walk out after controversial referee resigns
The drama began deep in added time in the second half. Senegal believed they had won the moment Ismaila Sarr found the back of the net, but the goal was controversially canceled due to a suspected foul during the build-up.
Tensions reached a boiling point minutes later, with VAR intervening at the other end and hosts Morocco being awarded a penalty for an infringement inside the box.
Senegal coach Pape Thiau was furious at the referee’s double standards and signaled his players to leave the field.
In an unprecedented scene in a continental final, the Senegalese team retreated into the tunnel and called off the match as CAF officials scrambled to restore order.
Mendy saves Brahim Diaz Paneka’s penalty
When play eventually resumed, the pressure was on Morocco’s star man Brahim Dias.
However, the long delay appears to have played into the hands of Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
The Real Madrid forward attempted a panenka, but a tenacious save from Mendy silenced the home crowd and sent the match into extra time.
Papu Gueye hits a stunner to break the deadlock.
The controversy seemed to stir up the reigning champions. Just four minutes into the first half of extra time, Pape Gueye silenced the stadium once again.
The midfielder fired a powerful shot from outside the box that landed in the top corner of the goal, giving Senegal a 1-0 lead.
Despite being controversial and appearing to be an attempt to steal victory from Senegal in favor of the hosts, the reigning champions won, making it their second consecutive victory in the tournament.
Sadio Mane – a true hero of Senegal
Manager Pape Thiau initially told his team to retreat to the dressing room in protest of the second-half penalty, but Mane initially followed his coach but quickly realized the gravity of his potential disqualification and was seen as being at the center of the chaos.
As emotions ran high following the double wrongdoing of the canceled goal and Morocco’s penalty, Mane reportedly appealed to his team-mates that trophies could only be won on the pitch, not in the tunnel.
In a final that will be remembered for decades, Sadio Mane’s leadership was heroically demonstrated and his decisions ultimately led to Senegal winning the tournament.
