Senegal secured a 1-0 victory over Morocco in a tense 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday night in Rabat.

The match between Africa’s top two-ranked teams was tightly contested, with neither side finding the net in the first half.

In the second half, the game appeared headed for a goalless draw until referee intervention disallowed Ismaila Sarr’s header for a foul on Achraf Hakimi.

Drama continued in stoppage time when Morocco was awarded a controversial penalty. After a tense delay, during which the Senegalese players briefly walked off the pitch, Brahim Diaz’s attempted panenka was brilliantly saved by Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy.

Extra time brought the breakthrough as Pape Gueye stunned Morocco with a sublime left-footed finish in the first half of extra time, sealing the title for Senegal.