Senegal have defeated Morocco 1-0 in a dramatic 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday night. It was a tight affair between the top-two ranked countries on the continent in Rabat. And there were no goals in the first half.
The second half was tilting towards a 0-0, until the ref disallowed Ismaila Sarr’s header for a foul on Achraf Hakimi.
The game was marred by late controversy as Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw tried to usher his team off the field when Morocco were awarded a spot-kick in the 98th minute when defender El Hadji Malick Diouf brought down Brahim Diaz.
When the penalty was eventually taken in the 113th minute, Real Madrid forward Diaz saw his Panenka attempt saved by Edouard Mendy.
Thiaw, 44, was irritated with referee Jean Jacques Ndala – who awarded the penalty after reviewing the incident on the VAR monitor – for ruling out a goal for his side moments earlier.
Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr had bundled home from close range, but his effort was chalked off for a foul by Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi.
After returning to the dressing room with several of his other team-mates, Mendy was encouraged back to the field by captain Sadio Mane.
Pape Gueye then stunned Morocco in the first half of extra (94th) with a sublime left-footed finish, to ensure the West Africans emerged champions.
COURTESY: DailyPost
