Senegal Walks out during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON final match between Senegal and Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco on 18 January 2026 ©Sydney Mahlangu BackpagePix
Monday Jan 19, 2026. 13:00
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations was an extraordinary tournament on the whole. The tournament’s goalscoring record was broken, newcomers dazzled in their debuts at the continental showpiece, teams snapped losing streaks and set winning ones.
However, the tournament’s image both on the continent and globally was brought into disrepute after the events of the final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Sunday.
The chaos began to brew in the third minute of stoppage time towards the end of the second half. With the score at 0–0, Abdoulaye Seck’s header from close range beat Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou but rebounded off the bar into the path of Ismaïla Sarr, who put the ball in the back of the net.
However, the Lions of Teranga were called back from their celebrations as the goal was disallowed. Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala found that Seck pushed Moroccan star Achraf Hakimi to create space for his initial header. While there certainly was contact, Hakimi played his part in selling the foul well, perhaps exaggerating the force used.
Though seeming like a more complicated call than initially thought, Ndala opted to not refer the decision to VAR.
As play continued, the Congolese referee was called into action once again only moments later. At the other end of the pitch, Morocco’s Brahim Díaz went down in the penalty area while guarded by Senegalese rising star El Hadji Malick Diouf.
Ndala did not show much interest in the challenge at first but Díaz incensed protests riled up not only his teammates on the pitch and the bench, but also the 68,095 fans in attendance at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, who were mostly Moroccan.
After communication through his earpiece, the referee moved to the screen at the sideline. While surrounded and watched intently by the benches and staff of both Morocco and Senegal, he pointed to the spot, signalling a penalty.
That was where the chaos well and truly took over.
Arguments broke out involving players and technical staff from both teams. The small section of Senegalese supporters were outraged, with some attempting to storm the field and launch objects at security personnel. One such steward had to be stretchered away, injured, while riot police were sent to deal with their Senegalese supporters.
While order was being restored in the stands, chaos continued on the field.
After argument and deliberations, the Lions of Teranga began to vacate the field, heading down the tunnel and towards their change room in protest against the refereeing decisions.
Only Senegal’s Sadio Mané remained on the pitch, attempting to play peace maker. After brief talks with former Senegal coach Claude Le Roy and Senegalese legend El Hadji Diouf, Mané displayed his leadership skills, bringing his players back out onto the pitch and avoiding a walkover and extremely disappointing end to the tournament.
Play resumed with Díaz’s penalty, however, over 20 minutes had passed since it was first awarded. Whether distracted by what had unfolded, unsettled by the wait, or nervous under the pressure of handing the hosts their first continental title in 50 years, the 26-year-old attempted a panenka-chip down the middle. Goalkeeper Édouard Mendy remained as still as a statue, denying Morocco the winner at the death.
Almost immediately after the saved penalty, Ndala blew his whistle, sending the fixture to extra-time.
Pape Gueye emerged as the hero of the night in the sixth minute of extra-time. The Villarreal midfielder charged from the halfway line, showing great physicality to hold off the defender at his back, before smashing the ball into the top right corner from the edge of the box.
The hosts could not claw their way back, with Gueye’s strike proving enough to hand the Lions of Teranga their second title all-time, and in the space of five years.
Despite their victory, and an otherwise outstanding tournament, the 2025 AFCON final will hold an undesirable spot in the history of African football.
While CAF is yet to announce any disciplinary action or investigation into the evening’s events, one can safely assume that Senegal are at risk of punishment for leaving the field.
What should have been a celebration of the beautiful game on the continent turned into an ugly affair, leaving a sour taste at the end of an otherwise magnificent tournament.
By Nic Gleeson