Obinna Ezugwu
Senegal claimed their second Africa Cup of Nations title on Sunday night after a dramatic 1–0 victory over hosts Morocco in a tense and incident-filled final in Rabat.
The Teranga Lions dominated large stretches of the encounter, controlling possession and asserting themselves against a Moroccan side roared on by a home crowd desperate for a historic triumph. Despite Senegal’s early authority, both teams struggled to carve out clear chances in a cagey first half that reflected the magnitude of the occasion.
After the restart, Senegal continued to dictate play, pinning Morocco back and patiently searching for a breakthrough. Their persistence appeared to pay off in the closing minutes of normal time when they found the back of the net, only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul in the build-up, sparking protests from the Senegalese players and bench.
The drama escalated in stoppage time when Morocco were awarded a penalty, a decision that plunged the stadium into chaos. Senegal’s players reacted angrily, with tempers flaring as the match threatened to spiral out of control.
Morocco’s hopes of snatching the title rested on Brahim Díaz, but the forward failed to rise to the moment. His weak spot-kick was comfortably gathered by Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, whose save proved to be the turning point of the final.
With the deadlock unbroken, the match moved into extra time, and Senegal wasted no time in capitalising on their reprieve. Just few minutes into the additional period, Pap Gueye fired a decisive strike into the net, sending the Senegalese supporters into raptures and stunning the home crowd into silence.
Morocco threw everything forward in search of an equaliser, but Senegal held firm, defending resolutely and managing the closing stages with maturity and composure. When the final whistle blew, the Teranga Lions celebrated a hard-fought victory that underlined their resilience and tactical discipline.
The triumph denied Morocco the chance to lift the AFCON trophy on home soil and confirmed Senegal’s growing dominance on the continental stage, as they added a second Africa Cup of Nations title to their honours list.
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