Senegal 1-0 Morocco: Pape Gueye’s milestone strike gives Teranga Lions their second AFCON title | OneFootball

Senegal dug deep to beat hosts Morocco 1-0 in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Sunday evening.

Senegal nearly took the lead early on, with Lamine Camara delivering a corner to the far post where Pape Gueye was waiting, only for Yassine Bounou to thwart his header.

There were no real chances at either end until the 37th minute, when Nicolas Jackson put Iliman Ndiaye through on goal, but Bounou produced a good save to deny him.

Morocco responded with a chance of their own, as Abde Ezzalzouli whipped a cross into the area, but Nayef Aguerd failed to connect with it cleanly.

Moments after the restart, Senegal had Malick Diouf to thank after the West Ham United defender headed the ball clear, preventing Ayyoub El Kaabi from heading into an empty net.

With Morocco dominating possession, El Kaabi squandered a golden chance to give the hosts the lead, sending his effort wide from close range after receiving a brilliant pass from Bilal El Khannouss.

With the Teranga Lions controlling proceedings, Senegal coach Pape Thiaw brought on Ibrahim Mbaye and Ismaila Sarr to inject more pace and trickery into his attack.

Sarr then thought he had netted the winning goal, heading the ball home from a corner, but his effort was ruled out for a foul in the build-up.

Just as it looked like the match was heading toward extra time, Morocco were awarded a penalty.

Despite Senegal’s protests, Brahim Diaz stepped up — only for Edouard Mendy to deny him from the spot, forcing the game to extra time.

Gueye broke the deadlock in the 94th minute, smashing the ball past the outstretched Bounou, netting his third goal of the tournament and Teranga Lions’ 100th in the competition.

Substitute Hamza Igamane spurned a chance to level the scores before the end of the first half of extra time, sending his header wide from just yards out.

Bounou made two fine stops early in the second half of extra time, keeping Morocco in the game, but Senegal held on to claim their second AFCON title.