AFCON 2025: Senegal Crowned Champions After Beating Morocco

Morocco had waited half a century to reclaim the Africa Cup of Nations, but the long wait continues after a 1–0 defeat to Senegal in the final of the 35th edition, played Sunday, January 18, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

Great promises were made, yet the wonders vanished. All that remained was a Senegalese mountain too hard to climb, where a nation’s hopes crumbled.

Morocco pushed in the final moments, finishing with ten men after Hamza Igamane was forced off injured. Yassine Bounou excelled in keeping them in the game, but it wasn’t enough.

Brahim Diaz could have changed the course of history if he hadn’t squandered the opportunity, sending his Panenka straight into Édouard Mendy’s hands.

But before that, the final threatened to turn into a drama, as Senegalese fans erupted over the referee’s penalty call for Morocco and tried to invade the pitch until security intervened.

One supporter required urgent evacuation. The players, meanwhile, were left bewildered after the referee had just disallowed a goal from a corner for a slight foul on Achraf Hakimi.

The end of the match was completely wild. The Lions of Teranga even began to walk off the pitch, before returning to deny Diaz’s penalty and seal victory with Pape Gueye’s sublime strike.

It was a final of few chances, where the stakes clearly overshadowed the game. Yet there was a certain logic to Senegal’s victory: they were far superior to the Atlas Lions, who fought until the end but failed to equalize.

A Crazy Atmosphere with 65,000 Supporters

Walid Regragui once again named an unchanged starting eleven, identical to that of the knockout phase.

التشكيلة الرسمية لمنتخبنا الوطني أمام السنغال 🇸🇳

🚨 Tonight’s 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙓𝙄 for the FINAL against Senegal#DimaMaghrib 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/qeY1y4rAI4

— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) January 18, 2026

A consistent team applying the same principles: a low-to-medium block in a compact 4-1-4-1, designed to close spaces and cut passing lanes.

And once possession was regained, the immediate aim was to exploit depth before the opposing defense could reorganize.

All of this, of course, in a crazy atmosphere, with 65,000 Moroccan supporters driving the Atlas Lions forward as much as they unsettled the Senegalese.

Even though the latter threatened Yassine Bounou’s goal far more than the reverse in the early stages.

To the point that the Moroccan goalkeeper had to rescue his team, deflecting a Senegalese header at the far post from a perfectly delivered Sadio Mané corner (5’).

To be fair, Senegal would not have been undeserving of the lead, given their more enterprising play in the opening quarter-hour and throughout the first half.

Mainly because Neil El Aynaoui’s teammates struggled to contain Sadio Mané’s movements between the lines and in the half-spaces, compounded by some easily avoidable turnovers.

However, at one stage, it seemed Pap Thiaw’s protégés had squandered their chance, allowing Morocco to regroup.

Ismaïl Saibari Stands out for Defensive Effort

It was Abdessamad Ezzalzouli who first sparked danger with a run and a dangerous cross that unfortunately found no takers (8’).

This inspired Ismaïl Saibari to try his luck with a central run, but his shot flew well wide (13').

The PSV Eindhoven attacking midfielder stood out more for his defensive work than for his actions on the ball.

His work rate was immense, often sparking Morocco’s quick transitions with ball recoveries in midfield.

But, like his teammates, he did not always make the right choices in the most crucial moments.

Especially since, for nearly half an hour, Brahim Diaz — expected to lead Morocco’s attack — was invisible.

He was absent from the exchanges and from the titanic battle between the two teams — a battle fought at every moment and one that nearly swung in favor of the Lions of Teranga.

But that was without reckoning with the efficiency of the Moroccan goalkeeper.

Released by Nicolas Jackson, Iliman Ndiaye missed his one-on-one with Bounou, whose quick rush deflected the Everton forward’s shot for a corner (38’).

Morocco Content Simply Not to Be Behind

Considering Senegal’s missed chances, it increasingly seemed they would pay for them. Our premonition nearly came true when Nayef Aguerd only grazed a pinpoint cross from Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (40’).

Overall, Morocco could take solace in reaching halftime level, after a first half in which none of their three shots found the target.

On the other hand, national coach Walid Regragui repeatedly showed his frustration on the sidelines. He was clearly unhappy — and understandably so.

He was even less so when Ayoub El Kaabi completely missed the target from just two meters out, failing to convert Bilal El Khannouss’s precise delivery (59’).

Indeed, this match at times felt like harvest season. That impression was reinforced when Ayoub El Kaabi, once again, and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli both squandered chances to take the lead after a well-executed counter led by Brahim Diaz, who finally began to show in the second half (64’).

Neil El Aynaoui’s injury in an aerial duel briefly halted the Atlas Lions’ momentum, just as they were beginning to gauge their opponents and pose a threat.

The introduction of Ismaïla Sarr on the right side of Senegal’s defense was a bold move by Pap Thiaw. Combined with Abdoulaye Seck’s entry, it enabled the Lions of Teranga to shift to a five-man back line with three center-backs.*

Pap Thiaw Won the Tactical Battle Against Regragui

But it was Ibrahim Mbaye’s introduction that caused the greatest problems for Morocco’s defense. His dazzling dribbles in the box, capped by a magnificent curling shot, sent shivers through the stands (90’).

Fortunately for Morocco, Yassine Bounou once again produced a world-class save.

In the ensuing play, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli had the chance to stun Senegal, but failed to hit the target.

Tension mounted late on, with the referee under pressure as he disallowed a Senegal goal before awarding Morocco a penalty — one squandered by Brahim Diaz, whose ill-judged Panenka went astray.

On the other side, Senegalese fans, feeling aggrieved, attempted to invade the pitch and clashed briefly with security forces.

The match eventually resumed, with Édouard Mendy denying Brahim Diaz’s Panenka before Pape Gueye extinguished the Atlas Lions’ last hopes.

Aided, admittedly, by Youssef En-Nesyri’s incredible miss deep in extra time.

Édouard Mendy was heroic in the 108th minute, denying a certain goal. Morocco pushed hard, but they were ultimately thwarted by a brilliant goalkeeper and, above all, a resolute Senegalese side.