Senegal 1 – 0 Morocco

January 19, 2026:

Pape Gueye’s stunner in extra time secured Senegal a second Africa Cup of Nations success after a dramamtic and controversial 1-0 victory over host nation Morocco.

Gueye’s thunderbolt in the fourth minute of extra time settled a final that was filled with controversy.

It came after dramatic scenes in stoppage time of normal time when Senegal coach Pape Thiaw, who was also angered by a disallowed goal for his side, took his Senegal players off the field following the decision to award the Atlas Lions a controversial last-gasp penalty.

Substitute Ismaila Sarr thought he had won it for Senegal until referee Jean-Jacques Ndala ruled out his header for a foul by Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi, and the the drama continued into the last minute of the scheduled eight minutes of added time when, having been advised to review Malick Diouf’s challenge on Diaz, the referee pointed to the spot, prompting a furious Thiaw to send most of his players to the dressing room.

Chaos ensued at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat with no-one particularly knowing how the game was going to end as Senegal temporarily refused to finish the game.

With the clock still running, after some encouragement from Sadio Mane, the Senegal players re-emerged in the 20th minute of stoppage time but incredibly, Diaz, who was the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals, saw his weakly attempted Panenka penalty saved by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy as Morocco spurned the chance of a first continental title in 50 years.

It sent the final to extra time and Thiaw’s men, fuelled by a sense of injustice, regrouped and forced their way in front when Gueye surged forward and blasted a left-foot piledriver past Bounou and into the top corner.

Bounou went on to deny Cherif Ndiaye a second with a stunning double save but Gueye’s contribution ultimately proved decisive for Senegal.

A walk off, a panenka miss and a stunner! How the drama unfolded?

90+2: Senegal have a goal disallowed.

90+8: Morocco win a controversial penalty in the final moments of stoppage time.

90+12: The Senegal players leave the pitch in protest

90+20: The Senegal players eventually return to field

90+24: Brahim Diaz sensationally tries a Panenka from the spot and Edouard Mendy saves it

Extra time (94): Pape Gueye smashes Senegal in front with goal that eventually seals his side AFCON success.

In pictures: AFCON final descends into chaos…

Mane the peacemaker – ‘That shows the great man he is’

When his team-mates returned to the dressing room, it was notable that Sadio Mane was the player who stayed out.

He was the one who appeared to get the Senegal players back out onto the pitch so that the game could finish.

The former Liverpool forward also went over to the Senegal fans at full-time to calm them down as trouble threatened to escalate at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

“He went back to the dressing room and brought those players back,” former Morocco international Hassan Kachloul said on E4.

“That shows the great man he is.

“Africa football was losing and world football was losing. Sadio Mane was the man to bring them back on.”

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