Gueye extra time stunner hands Senegal TotalEnergies AFCON title

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, known in short as the 2025 AFCON or CAN 2025 and for sponsorship purposes as the TotalEnergies 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, was the 35th edition of the biennial Africa Cup of Nations tournament organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). It was the second edition hosted by Morocco after 1988. Morocco was originally scheduled to host the 2015 edition, but withdrew due to fears stemming from the Western African Ebola virus epidemic. Due to FIFA expanding its Club World Cup competition to 32 teams and having it scheduled for June and July 2025, this edition of the tournament was played between 21 December 2025 and 18 January 2026. It was the first time that the tournament was played over the Christmas and New Year period. The situation was further complicated by the addition of two extra match days scheduled for the last two weeks of January in the expanded 2025–26 UEFA Champions League season.

This edition of the tournament was scheduled to be the second after 2019 to take place during the northern hemisphere’s summer (June–July), in order to reduce scheduling conflicts with European club teams and competitions; the previous 2023 edition was moved to January and February 2024 owing to the adverse summer weather conditions in Ivory Coast. Guinea was originally set as hosts for this edition of the tournament, but had its hosting rights stripped after affirming its inadequacy of hosting preparations. After a second bidding process, Morocco was named as the new hosts on 27 September 2023.

Senegal clinched their second Africa Cup of Nations title with a dramatic 1–0 victory over hosts Morocco after extra time in a pulsating TotalEnergies AFCON final in Rabat.

The breakthrough came just three minutes into extra time when Pape Gueye produced a sensational left-footed strike from the edge of the box, sparking wild celebrations on the Senegal bench and stunning a capacity crowd hoping for a historic home triumph.

Morocco had been inches away from glory at the end of normal time. Following a VAR review, the hosts were awarded a late penalty, but their hopes were dashed when goalkeeper Edward Mendy brilliantly saved Brahim Díaz’s spot kick, pushing the final beyond the 90 minutes.

From the first whistle, the contest was evenly matched. Morocco were chasing their first continental title in more than 50 years, while Senegal were determined to regain the crown they first won in 2021.

The Teranga Lions began on the front foot, dictating the tempo and fashioning the clearer openings in the first half. Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was kept busy early on, reacting smartly to deny Gueye’s header at the back post before pulling off an excellent one-on-one save to stop Iliman Ndiaye.

Morocco’s best chance of the opening half arrived five minutes before the break, when Nayef Aguerd narrowly missed making contact with Abdessamad Ezzalzouli’s dangerous cross that flashed across the goalmouth.

The Atlas Lions returned from the interval with renewed intensity. Ayoub El Kaabi found himself through on goal after a perfectly weighted pass from Bilal El Khannouss split the Senegal defence, but the striker failed to hit the target.

Despite sustained pressure and attacking intent, Morocco were unable to find the decisive touch in the final third, as Senegal held firm and ultimately struck the telling blow in extra time to seal continental glory once again.

Senegal, dangerous on the counter, almost struck late in normal time. In the 89th minute, substitute Ibrahim Mbaye curled an effort towards the far corner, only for Bounou to produce another full-stretch save to keep the contest level.

With no breakthrough after 90 minutes, extra time beckoned, and 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.

Showing strength and composure, the midfielder drove to the edge of the box before firing an unstoppable shot beyond Bounou.

Morocco pushed desperately for an equaliser. 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 the end, Senegal held firm, defending with resilience and maturity to see out a historic victory, sealing their second AFCON title and once again affirming their place among the continent’s elite.

Pape Gueye – TotalEnergies Man of the Match

“I am very happy to win the final; it was a complicated match. After Morocco missed the penalty, we stayed focused, played our game, and showed Senegalese football. Then we scored a goal that allowed us to win the match. Scoring in a final is a moment of pride for me. I am very happy to score in the final, and most importantly, the Senegal national team now has a second star.”