Senegal’s national football team won the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, beating Morocco by a single goal after extra time (0-0 at fulltime) on Sunday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, in a match, finely balanced from the opening whistle.
For this fixture between two teams that had never previously met in the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations, Walid Regragui fielded the same starting eleven.
By contrast, Pape Thiaw made several changes to make up for the absences of Kalidou Koulibaly, Habib Diarra and Krépin Diatta, all ruled out at the last minute.
After five minutes of probing, Senegal created the first clear chance of the match. From a corner taken on the left, the ball reached the far post where Pape Gueye attempted a close-range header but was denied by the imposing goal keeper Yassine Bounou.
Two minutes later, Ezzalzouli surged down the flank and delivered a teasing cross into the box. The ball went unreached and the danger was eventually cleared by the Senegalese defense.
The hosts’ best opportunity of the half came five minutes before the break, when Nayef Aguerd narrowly failed to connect with Abdessamad Ezzalzouli’s teasing cross that flashed across the face of goal.
Thereafter, both teams slowed the tempo, waiting for the right moment to strike without leaving spaces. With Senegal enjoying a slight edge in possession (57%) up to the 25th minute, the match turned into an intense tactical battle in midfield, with the goalkeepers rarely called into action.
In the 38th minute, Senegal, very quick in transition, came close to opening the scoring. A driven pass from Jackson beat the Moroccan high block and gave Ndiaye a clear run at Bounou inside the box. The former Sevilla goalkeeper produced a superb save, deflecting the low, angled shot with the tip of his right foot.
Five minutes later, Ezzalzouli delivered a superb right-footed cross into the Senegal penalty area. Aguerd came close to meeting it with a header but was unable to connect.
The Atlas Lions emerged with renewed purpose after the interval. Ayoub El Kaabi was presented with a golden chance when Bilal El Khannouss threaded a defense-splitting pass through the Senegal back line, but the forward could not keep his effort on target.
In the 67th minute, Neil El Aynaoui rose high in an aerial duel with Diouf and suffered a cut to the eyebrow. The medical staff came onto the pitch to stop the bleeding, and the AS Roma midfielder was able to continue.
Morocco were awarded a penalty in stoppage time, but Brahim Diaz missed his attempted Panenka.
In the extra time, Senegal needed little time to strike. A turnover in midfield saw Sadio Mané cleverly back-heel the ball into the path of Idrissa Gana Gueye, who released Pape Gueye.
The midfielder drove to the edge of the box before firing an unstoppable shot beyond Bounou.
Morocco pushed desperately for an equalizer. Diaz nearly redeemed his earlier penalty miss with a close-range effort saved by Mendy, while Youssef En-Nesyri came inches away with a diving header that drifted narrowly wide.
Senegal could even have doubled their lead late on, but Bounou again denied Pape Cherif Ndiaye from close range, with the substitute also failing to convert the rebound.
In this thrilling final, Morocco were chasing a first continental crown in over five decades, while Senegal sought to reclaim the title they first lifted in 2021.
