Senegal Rule Africa Again After Rabat Night of Fireworks and Fury

ByNewsmakers

Jan 18, 2026 #AFCON 2025 final Rabat, #Brahim Diaz missed penalty, #Edouard Mendy penalty save, #Papa Gueye winning goal, #Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, #Senegal AFCON 2025 winners, #Senegal beat Morocco extra time, #Senegal second AFCON title, #Senegal vs Morocco AFCON final, #VAR controversy AFCON final

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Senegal’s Teranga Lions are champions of Africa once again after a dramatic, controversy-laced night in Rabat that ended in fireworks, fury and a thunderous extra-time winner against hosts Morocco.

In a gripping 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final played on Sunday night, January 18, 2026, Senegal edged the hard-fighting Atlas Lions to lift the trophy for the second time in their history, following their first triumph at the 2021 edition in Cameroon.

The showdown at the 69,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium had everything: intensity, near chaos, VAR drama and a late twist that left Moroccan fans stunned.

The biggest flashpoint came deep into stoppage time when referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty after going to the pitch-side monitor for a VAR review. The incident involved Senegal’s El Hadji Malick Diouf, who appeared to drag down Brahim Díaz by the neck as a cross came into the box.

Senegal’s players reacted angrily, surrounding the referee and briefly walking off the pitch in protest, forcing the match to be halted for several minutes. Calm was eventually restored after Senegal captain Sadio Mané appealed to his teammates to return, allowing play to resume.

Morocco’s celebrations, however, quickly turned to disbelief when Díaz, who finished the tournament as top scorer with five goals, stepped up and struck the penalty straight into the waiting hands of Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy.

With the score still level after regulation time, the final went into extra time, where Senegal found the decisive breakthrough.
Just four minutes into extra time, Papa Gueye surged forward, shrugged off Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi and unleashed a ferocious strike past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. The ball crashed in off the underside of the bar and into the net, sending Senegal’s bench into wild celebrations and silencing the home crowd.

The goal proved enough as Senegal held firm to seal a memorable victory, reclaiming continental supremacy after a night that will live long in AFCON history.