Senegal have clinched their second Africa Cup of Nations title after beating Morocco in an extraordinary final on Sunday. Pape Gueye scored what turned out to be the winning goal early in extra-time, though events that transpired before that moment may overshadow an otherwise superb AFCON tournament.
In the final minute of stoppage time in normal time, Morocco were controversially awarded a penalty following a VAR review when West Ham’s El Hadji Malick Diouf was adjudged to have pulled Brahim Diaz back in the area. Senegal players, incensed by the decision after moments earlier seeing a goal disallowed when Abdoulaye Seck penalised for a foul on Achraf Hakimi, were sensationally ordered off the pitch by head coach Pape Thiaw.
After around 20 minutes of frustration and confusion, the Senegal players eventually returned to pitch to face the penalty. With the chance to score his sixth goal of the competition and seal Morocco’s first AFCON title in nearly 50 years, Diaz’s failed with an audacious panenka penalty attempt as Edouard Mendy simply caught the ball. That moment was the final action of regulation time, sending the AFCON final into extra-time where Gueye’s sensational effort into the top corner to crown Senegal champions of Africa. Follow the Africa Cup of Nations final back below with Standard Sport's dedicated match blog!
Senegal vs Morocco latest news
- GOAL! Gueye fires Senegal ahead in extra-time
- BRAHIM DIAZ MISSES STOPPAGE TIME PENALTY
- SENEGAL PLAYERS WALK OFF
- PENALTY TO MOROCCO
- NO GOAL! Senegal denied late winner
Second star for Senegal
Sunday 18 January 2026 22:48 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSenegal are now two-time AFCON winners.
THE SECOND STAR WRITTEN IN GOLD! ⭐️⭐️
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 18, 2026
Senegal, the Champions of Africa. 🇸🇳#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/OD9HcUpHM3
AFCON final live
Sunday 18 January 2026 22:40 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHere is one of many images that will be plastered over tomorrow’s newspapers and on social media.
AFCON final live
Sunday 18 January 2026 22:36 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneLook at how much Sadio Mane means to the Senegal players. From being chosen to lift the trophy, he is hoisted up by his team-mates. Surely, this won’t be his last AFCON.
If so, he bows out as a champion!
AFCON final live
Sunday 18 January 2026 22:34 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneKalidou Koulibaly, suspended for the final, is presented with the trophy but he calls Sadio Mane to the front and Gana Gueye puts the captain’s armband on the forward for the trophy lift!
SENEGAL CROWNED CHAMPIONS OF AFRICA.
AFCON final live
Sunday 18 January 2026 22:31 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneA few kisses to the AFCON trophy from the Senegal players as they take their place on the stage.
AFCON final live
Sunday 18 January 2026 22:30 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHere come the Senegal players to receive their gold AFCON medals.
AFCON final live
Sunday 18 January 2026 22:29 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWalid Regragui immediately removes his medal from around his neck. Wonder what the future holds for the Morocco head coach after failing to win AFCON.
AFCON final live
Sunday 18 January 2026 22:28 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne50 years of pain for the Morocco goes on. A tournament on home soil, will they ever get a better chance to end their AFCON drought?
AFCON final live
Sunday 18 January 2026 22:27 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneMorocco go up to collect their runners-up medals.
Fan reaction
Sunday 18 January 2026 22:26 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe protest and walk off was just as necessary as Sadio calling them back out. The point needed to be made. I don’t think Diaz misses that pen if he could’ve took it without any drama. #AFCON2025
— RE: Roderick™ (@roderickand_) January 18, 2026
Fan reaction
Sunday 18 January 2026 22:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAbsolute chaos at the Afcon final. Senegal walk off the field in protest, then they eventually come back on, Brahim Diaz makes a mess of the penalty for Morocco and Senegal score an absolutely brilliant goal to win a crazy final #AFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/hKPmeWBQ2C
— KayDee (@Mrdiinero) January 18, 2026
Awards time
Sunday 18 January 2026 22:23 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneBrahim Diaz goes up to collect his top scorer award. Five goals in the tournament and it should have been six.
Fan reaction
Sunday 18 January 2026 22:09 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSenegal have done it 🇲🇱 #AFCON2025 Champions, proud moment! https://t.co/obrvYufkgK
— NnanyiMo (@NnanyiMo) January 18, 2026
Contrasting emotions at the full-time whistle.
AFCON final live
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:59 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneContrasting scenes at full-time, Senegal players overjoyed while the Morocco players look gutted.
SENEGAL CHAMPIONS
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:56 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThere goes the final whistle!
SENEGAL ARE THE 2025 AFCON WINNERS!
Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:54 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne120+2 min: Senegal have the ball deep in Morocco’s half. That is not where the host nation want to be as the clock is ticking away.
Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:53 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne120 min: Board goes up, three minutes of stoppage time!
Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:51 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne118 min: Senegal into defensive mode with less than two minutes to play. Can Morocco find an equaliser to send this AFCON final to penalties?
Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:49 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne116 min: Clever play from Senegal from the corner but Targhalline is alert and concedes another corner which is cleared to Gueye who catches a volley sweetly but his attempt is wide.
Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:48 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne115 min: Rain pouring down in Rabat. We’ve literally had everything in this AFCON final.
Gueye stings the arms of Bounou with a fierce effort from range.
Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:46 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne114 min: There’s going to be more drama, right?
Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:44 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne111 min: WHAT A MISS!
The goal is gaping for Cherif Ndiaye to wrap up the game after seeing his initial effort saved but the Senegal man, somehow, puts his effort well wide of the post.
Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:41 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne108 min: CROSSBAR!
Oh how close can you get? Aguerd with a great header but the woodwork comes to Senegal’s rescue.
Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:39 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne107 min: El Yamiq, off balance, fires wide after Hakimi’s corner had fallen to him.
Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:38 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne106 min: Defensive change by Senegal as Jakobs has replaced Diouf.
Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:38 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneBack underway in extra-time.
Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:37 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSeeing a replay of the Brahim Diaz penalty. What was he thinking?
Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:35 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThere goes the whistle. Half-time in extra-time.
Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:34 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne105 min: WHAT A BLOCK!
Hakimi comes across to stop Mbaye scoring one of the goals of the tournament.
Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:33 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne104 min: What a cross from Ezzalzouli on the run, but En-Nesyri heads wide from just in front of the front post.
Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:30 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne102 min: Mendy is down yet again, but this time he was caught by Igamane following a clearance. The Morocco man has come off worse in the challenge.
Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:29 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne100 min: Mendy needs some attention after a clash with En-Nesyri. Think the Senegal keeper is just playing for time here, not a great deal of contact.
Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:26 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne98 min: Mazraoui and Diaz make way for Morocco.
Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne96 min: Honestly, never seen anything like this. Ten minutes ago, the Senegal players and staff were staging a protest, now they lead!
GOAL! Senegal 1-0 Morocco | Pape Gueye ‘94
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:23 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne94 min: SENEGAL LEAD!
Pape Gueye slams Senegal in front with a superb strike into the top corner.
Deadlock broken in extra-time.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:19 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne91 min: Extra-time underway in Rabat.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:16 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneA panenka effort is missed by Brahim Diaz. And we are going to extra-time.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+22 min: Right then, Brahim Diaz places the ball on the spot, takes a couple of steps back...
Runs up to the ball and MISSES!
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:11 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe Senegal players have now returned.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:11 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWe were supposed to have eight minutes of stoppage time, we are now in the 109th minute. A really sad end to the AFCON final, not a great look for African football after such a superb tournament.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:09 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSadio Mane is urging his team-mates to return to the pitch.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:08 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+15 min: Not sure what Thiaw is hoping to achieve here.
Well, well, the Senegal players are leaving the pitch!
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:03 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+12 min: Hold on a minute, Pape Thiaw is ordering his Senegal players off the pitch.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:02 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+10 min: Referee needs to gain control of this, both sets of players arguing.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 21:01 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+9 min: Senegal players are raging at that decision. The yellow card has been brandished a few times. Diouf is distraught.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:59 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+7 min: Diouf does pull Diaz to the ground, here comes the decision...PENALTY!
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:58 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+6 min: Brahim Diaz is enraged by something, he wants a penalty and there will be a VAR check.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:55 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+4 min: Changes for both sides as Jackson and Saibari make way.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:54 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+2 min: Senegal have the ball in the back of the net, but the goal will not count. Seck penalised for a foul on Hakimi.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:53 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne90+1 min: Into eight minutes of stoppage time as El Yamiq makes a superb clearance. Senegal really forcing the issue.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:51 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne89 min: Very nearly a late sting in the tale as Mbaye does well to dig the ball out of his feet and looks to curl one into the far corner but Bounou is equal to it.
Then at the other end, Ezzalzouli shoots over.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne88 min: El Yamiq replaces Masina. The Morocco defender looks gutted to be coming off.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:48 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne87 min: Decent opening for Senegal as Mane sweeps the ball out wide. The ball eventually falls to Gueye on the edge of the box but he rushes his attempt and it bobbles wide.
Masina down in the Morocco box now.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:43 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne81 min: Into the final ten minutes in the AFCON final, but there will be a considerable amount of injury time tagged on for the delay when El Aynaoui and Diouf had a clash of heads.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:42 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne80 min: Double Morocco change sees Targhalline and En-Nesyri replace El Khannouss and El Kaabi.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:39 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne78 min: Those changes by Senegal suggest they want to get this game done inside 90 minutes.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:38 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne76 min: Triple Senegal change!
ON: Mbaye, Sarr and Seck
OFF: Mendy, Camara and Ndiaye
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:36 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne74 min: El Aynaoui is ready to continue. Not sure how wise that is considering he took a massive blow to the head and lost a considerable amount of blood.
Big cheers as he returns.
Play restarts with a Morocco corner which comes to nothing.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:33 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne71 min: It’s not looking good for El Aynaoui. He’s lost a lot of blood as he is bandaged up. Shades of Terry Butcher!
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:28 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne66 min: Ooof, that is nasty. Clash of heads between El Aynaoui and Diouf at a corner, there is blood pouring from the Morocco midfielder’s head.
Hope the pair are alright, El Aynaoui is in a much worse condition.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:24 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne63 min: Morocco open up Senegal again following a slack giveaway, Diaz slides in El Kaabi but his attempt is blocked by Sarr before Ezzalzouli curls the rebound past the far post.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:22 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne60 min: El Kaabi did everything right, letting the ball roll across his body but just didn’t make the right contact with his left foot. Huge chance for Morocco.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:20 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne58 min: CHANCE!
Morocco should be ahead as El Khannouss picks out El Kaabi in the middle but the forward fluffs his lines. Fails to even hit the target.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:18 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne56 min: This final is ebbing and flowing as Senegal are on top now. Mane wins a corner after Diouf’s cross into a dangerous area is cleared by the Morocco defence.
Senegal can’t make the most of the corner as Gueye’s acrobatic attempt is caught easily by Bounou.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:16 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne54 min: Jackson stretches the Morocco defence with a run in behind. However, Senegal’s attack is halted after Mazraoui gets struck in the face, accidentally.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:14 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne52 min: Ezzalzouli is blocked off by Mendy and Morocco have a free-kick in a promising position. Can they make something from this?
No, as Hakimi fires an effort straight into the wall.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:12 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne50 min: Very good header, under pressure, from Diouf as El Kaabi was waiting behind him. Morocco keep up the pressure with successive corners but Senegal defend them well.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:08 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne46 min: No changes for either side at the break. Looking at both benches, Senegal just shade it in terms of stronger options.
KICK-OFF!
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:06 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneBack underway in Rabat!
Fan thoughts
Sunday 18 January 2026 20:03 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThese Senegalese have lost golden chances that could haunt them later
— David Arowojolu (@Its_superdave) January 18, 2026
That last effort before halftime could have been a goal, release a pass, but he went for goal straight #AFCON2025#AFCON2025FINAL
Fan reaction
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:58 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneIncredible first half. Anticipating more action in the second half. What a game!#AFCON2025 #SENMAR #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025
— Rekot (@Rekot001) January 18, 2026
Fan reaction
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:55 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne2 massive Bono saves in 1st 37 mins #AFCONFinal pic.twitter.com/LERx53a9kb
— Mr7 (@adrakwalichai1) January 18, 2026
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:51 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneTwo massive saves from Yassine Bounou means it's goalless at the break in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
HALF-TIME!
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:51 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThere goes the whistle.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne45+3 min: Good play from Ndiaye as he nudges the ball to Camara who elects to shoot instead of passing and his effort is blocked. Morocco then race up the other end and win a corner after Saibari’s placed effort was blocked.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:46 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne45 min: Into four minutes of stoppage time as Masina makes a great recovery challenge to stop Mane and concede a corner.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:44 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne44 min: How about this for a save! Iliman Ndiaye must have thought he had given Senegal the lead.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:41 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne41 min: Don’t think Ndiaye did anything wrong there, it’s just a superb save from Bounou. Anyways, corner for Senegal to defend and they deal with the initial cross.
Ezzalzouli then puts in a great cross but Aguerd can’t make contact from close range. That is the closest Morocco have come to scoring.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:38 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne37 min: CHANCE!
Fantastic move from Senegal as Jackson switches the play to Ndiaye and he is clean through, goes for the far corner but Bounou makes a stunning save with his legs.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:37 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne36 min: Bit of an issue for Iliman Ndiaye now. The Everton man requires a bit of treatment on his right foot. Looks OK to carry on though.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:34 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne34 min: Senegal fans are vastly outnumbered here but they are making their voices heard loud and clear. Incredible noise!
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:33 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne32 min: Ezzalzouli overcooks the cross and the Senegal defenders watch the ball drift out of play. Anti-climatic to say the least.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:32 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne31 min: Ndiaye catches Mazraoui late and Morocco are awarded a free-kick in a promising position. Host nation scored twice from set-pieces in the quarter-final win over Cameroon.
Ezzalzouli to take...
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:28 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne27 min: What a waste that is. Lamine Camara overhits a free-kick, letting Morocco off the hook.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:24 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne24 min: The first yellow card of the AFCON final goes to Senegal as Lamine Camara goes into the book. On replay, it’s a harsh decision as the midfielder made no contact with El Aynaoui.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:21 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne21 min: Once again, Gueye gets caught in possession and Morocco break. However, El Kaabi delays his pass for Saibari and the forward is caught offside prior to lifting an effort over the bar.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:19 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne19 min: Ndiaye for Senegal against Mazraoui for Morocco is shaping up to be a key battle. So far, it’s even between the Everton and Manchester United stars.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:18 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne17 min: Problem here for Lamine Camara. The last thing Senegal need is an injury problem after what happened in the warm-up with Krepin Diatta.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:16 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne16 min: Great play all around. First, Saibari pinches the ball of Gueye before Senegal manage to hold up the Morocco attacker and then Mendy gets his body in between man and ball to shield it out for a goal-kick.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:14 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne14 min: Saibari is allowed to carry the ball a long way, right through the middle of the Senegal team. He gets inside the area but slashes his effort well wide.
Should be testing Mendy from there.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:12 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne13 min: Big night for Mamadou Sarr, filling in for Kalidou Koulibaly, he gets his head to a free-kick but can’t direct an effort towards goal.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:11 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne12 min: So close to the opening goal in the AFCON final.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:10 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne10 min: Morocco starting to get a foothold in this final. Ezzalzouli has beaten Mendy for pace down the left-hand side and his cross into a dangerous area had to be cleared by Diouf.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:09 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne8 min: The Africa Cup of Nations trophy! Which captain will be lifting it later this evening?
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:05 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne5 min: Strong start by Senegal as Mane manages to win a corner down the left-hand side. Early opportunity for the West African nation and the cross finds Gueye at the back post but Bounou makes a superb save!
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:04 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne4 min: Mane goes to ground but the referee says no foul and that allows Morocco to break forward with Hakimi but Senegal get enough players back to see out the danger.
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:02 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne2 min: Morocco in their changed strip of all-white for the AFCON final this evening. Senegal all in green and are being whistled when in possession.
KICK-OFF!
Sunday 18 January 2026 19:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWe are underway at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Who will come out on top in the Africa Cup of Nations final?
We are about to find out!
AFCON final live
Sunday 18 January 2026 18:57 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWow! The passion from the Morocco players, staff and supporters for the national anthem was something else.
This just highlights the task facing Senegal this evening.
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