For what the 2025 AFCON may have lacked in storylines and drama, it unravelled spectacularly in the space of 22 chaotic minutes in Rabat.
Senegal won their second African title in four years, this time in the backyard of their Moroccan opponents, courtesy of a wonder strike in extra time.
However, that only told half the story under the rainy night sky in North Africa.
Continents strongest sides
A close final was always predicted ahead of a heavyweight clash between Africa's two highest-ranked teams. Morocco were at an AFCON final for the first time in 22 years, under immense pressure from their expectant home crowd. They were aiming to be the 10th side in the tournament's history to lift the trophy on home soil as hosts.
If anyone was to stop Achraf Hakimi from lifting the trophy, it was to be Senegal. Pape Thiaw's men had won all six of their games so far, conceding just two goals in the process.
As the players entered a sea of red, with a small section of yellow and green nestled in between, both teams, with a strong defensive record, knew the opening goal would be crucial.
The West Africans created the opening chance, Pape Gueye running onto a deep corner unmarked, his header kept out by Morocco's semi-final hero Bono. The 'Lions of Teranga' continued to press, looking lively against the nervy hosts.
Ismael Saibari got the home crowd on their feet after finding space, but the first shot at goal went high and wide past Edouard Mendy's goal. Bono was called into action before half-time, keeping out Iliman Ndiaye's effort with his feet, after the Everton forward burst onto a perfect through ball.
Half-time brought a 0-0 scoreline, the same as both semi-finals had produced four days earlier.
Senegal's substitute goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf had to protect Edouard Mendy's towel in the AFCON final. 😳🇸🇳 pic.twitter.com/vuAQwhaV2P
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) January 19, 2026
Searching for a winner
Morocco began the second half by producing their best chance of the game. Bilal El Khannous's clever low pass was met by Ayoub El Kaabi, the 32-year-old clipping the ball inches past the post. The hosts pushed forward, but the Senegalese backline stood firm, limiting chances.
As both nations sought a hero, Abde Ezzalzouli had the opportunity to be that just before the 90th minute, although he fired over the crossbar from a tight angle.
With the clock ticking down, it seemed like a tense 90 minutes would end with no winner. What followed instead was a wave of controversy.
Controversy and walk off
Senegal thought they had won the game in stoppage time. Abdoulaye Seck was harshly penalised for an apparent push on Hakimi, the ref blowing his whistle just as Ismaila Sarr had headed the rebound into the net.
Feeling aggrieved, the referee awarded the hosts the opportunity to win the trophy minutes later.
Brahim Diaz claimed a penalty after contact with West Ham full-back El Hadji Malick Diouf. The challenge seemed no different to one that occurred in the opposite penalty box minutes earlier. After a VAR check, the referee awarded the hosts the penalty with the last kick of the game.
For Pape Thiaw, he'd seen it all, frantically waving his Senegal team off the pitch and into the brightly lit tunnel. Several figures were shown taking phone calls, including former Senegal and Premier League figure El Hadji Diouf. Sadio Mane seemed to show a reluctance to leave the pitch, eventually encouraging the side back after a 15-minute delay, some more reluctant than others.
Utter confusion followed, including unsavoury scenes in the stands and clashes between police and Senegalese supporters. All the while, Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz, the tournament's top scorer, was awaiting his chance to seal his legacy in Moroccan history at the age of 26.
Painful panenka
Incredibly, the faintest of panenka's followed, Diaz stroking the ball straight into the arms of a static Edouard Mendy. Moroccan fans could barely believe it, nor could a fuming manager Walid Regragui.
Debates will rage on whether it was a purposeful act. Was it agreed somehow to encourage the Senegal players to continue? Or was it just a headrush decision from a young star full of confidence, having already netted five times this tournament?
Diaz’s emotions afterwards suggested it was the latter of those, looking broken as everyone geared up for another 30 minutes.
And it took just three minutes for the winning goal to come, a strike worthy of winning any final. Senegal drove forward after winning the ball back in their own half.
Everton’s energetic midfielder, Idrissa Gueye, found Pape Gueye in space. The Villarreal man advanced before unleashing a powerful left-footed shot past Bono and into the top right corner. A decisive lead for a team that had won every game at this tournament, in which they scored the first goal.
Risking it all
The hosts had no choice but to throw everything at their opponents. Ezzalzouli's accurate cross from the left was met by Youssef En Nesyri, who glanced his header just wide of the near post. After the interval, towering centre-half Nayef Aguerd headed Ilias Akhomach's deep corner onto the bar, before being scrambled clear with some brave defending.
A golden chance to add a second was then somehow not taken. Ismaila Sarr's pass found Cherif Ndiaye in the box. After his initial low shot was saved by Bono, the striker followed up and somehow put his rebound wide of an empty net.
The miss did not prove to be costly, as Senegal saw the short remainder out to be crowned champions of Africa for a second time in their history, sparking celebrations after 120+ minutes of action both on and off the pitch. Sadio Mane hoisted the trophy aloft in a virtually empty Rabat stadium, aside from the section of dancing Senegalese fans.
Manager reaction
Pape Thiaw did not even have a chance to speak to the press after the match, greeted by jeers from the Moroccan press who swiftly left the room. Following arguments between journalists from both nations, Thiaw himself left as well.
Walid Regragui did get the chance for his say on events and was critical of Thiaw's side leaving the pitch, describing it as shameful. "The image we've given of Africa is shameful. What Pape Thiaw did does not honour Africa. He wasn't classy, but he's a champion. He can say whatever he wants.
Morocco head coach Walid Regragui described his Senegal counterpart, Pape Thiaw, as 'shameful,' after his side won the Africa Cup of Nations in dramatic circumstances, as Thiaw and his players temporarily left pitch due to reviewed penalty decision before Senegal won ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/HtS9MBnCbj
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 19, 2026
"As for the penalty, the match stopped for 10 minutes. That didn't help Brahim. That doesn't excuse him for the way he took the penalty. He hit it that way, and we have to accept that. We were one minute away from being champions of Africa. That's football. It's often cruel. We missed the opportunity of a lifetime."
