In a tumultuous final held at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Senegal secured their second Africa Cup of Nations title by defeating Morocco 1-0.
The match remained scoreless until extra time, when Pape Gueye, a midfielder for Villarreal, clinched the victory with a forceful shot into the upper corner.
The game was marked by significant tension during the closing minutes of regulation. Following a lengthy VAR assessment, the referee granted Morocco a contentious penalty, prompting the Senegalese squad to temporarily exit the field in protest.
The standoff lasted nearly 20 minutes before captain Sadio Mané persuaded his team to resume play.
Morocco’s Brahim Díaz subsequently attempted a “Panenka” penalty, but it was comfortably intercepted by goalkeeper Édouard Mendy. This victory marks Senegal’s second continental championship, adding to their inaugural 2021 win.
