Senegal Beat Morocco 1-0 to Win AFCON in Thrilling Final - Play-by-Play Report

Senegal Beat Morocco 1-0 to Win AFCON in Thrilling Final - Play-by-Play Report

The closing ceremony drew to a crescendo, and the players emerged onto the pitch at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium for the AFCON 2026 final.

Sadio Mané’s Senegal marched out with pride, undeterred by the thunderous roar of the Moroccan home crowd. The stage was set, the lights were blazing, and the world watched on, braced for what would become one of the most extraordinary international finals of all time.

The First Half: Tension Builds

Krepin Diatta courage pic.twitter.com/iCpaMmeAHA

— GABIMARU 🥷♐️ (@elimane_red) January 18, 2026

An injury in the warm up for Senegal's Krepin Diatta forced them to make a change to their starting lineup. With their first choice right back out injured, and the stalwart Kalidou Koulibaly suspended, the Lions of Teranga faced challenges before even entering the field. However, the side were steady throughout the first half. A golden chance for Iliman Ndiaye came towards the end of the half, and if it wasn't for a world class save from Yassine Bounou, Senegal would've had one hand on the trophy after 45 minutes.

Morocco begun the game how they have played every other game this tournament so far, defending with their hearts on their sleeves and leaving everything out on the pitch. A few bright sparks from winger Ezzalzouli troubled the Senegal defence, yet nothing materialised for the Atlas Lions in the first half. Saves from Bounou helped keep the side in the game as the first half ended in a stalemate.

The Second Half: VAR Madness

The second half began in a similar manner to the first, with both teams keeping their cards close to their chest. Small ignitions of attack from Senegal, led by the imperious Sadio Mané, were witheld by the Atlas Lions' defence.

This was fast becoming a war between two African giants. Like a game of chess, every move was calculated, both sides waiting for the slightest mistake before striking. The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium was shaking with noise, a wall of sound driving Morocco forward and daring Senegal to respond. As the rain came crashing down, urgency turned into desperation. Youssef En-Nesyri went close on more than one occasion for the hosts, but Edouard Mendy stood firm, commanding his box, devouring crosses, and refusing to be beaten.

Stoppage time arrived, eight nerve-shredding minutes to decide it. Then, in the 92nd minute, Senegal won a corner and the stadium held its breath. The delivery swung in, Abdoulaye Seck rose highest and smashed a header against the post. The ball ricocheted perfectly into the path of Ismaïla Sarr, who reacted in a flash and nodded it into the net. Senegal erupted. The bench sprinted onto the touchline. The travelling fans lost their minds. However, the moment didn’t last. The referee blew his whistle and ruled the goal out for a foul in the box by Seck as he challenged for the initial header. Senegal were furious, protesting in disbelief as the clock ticked down and extra time loomed.

Why was Senegal's goal disallowed?

This is am embarrassment🚮🚮🚮#AFCON2025 #AFCONFinal pic.twitter.com/afO8qkwSDa

— Indlemnyama (@indlemnyama95) January 18, 2026

With 20 seconds left on the clock, Morocco won a corner, one last roll of the dice. The ball was whipped in, but before anyone could even attack it, chaos erupted. An off-the-ball incident ended with an alleged foul by West Ham left-back Malick Diouf, and after a VAR check, Morocco were awarded a penalty in the final kick of the 90 minutes.

What followed was something African football, and world football, had never witnessed before. Furious at the decision, Senegal boss Pape Thiaw demanded his players walk off, refusing to allow the penalty to be taken. The stadium froze. The world watched in disbelief as everyone, from the substitutes to the starting XI, marched straight down the tunnel. For more than 15 minutes, the game was suspended. Then, in a moment of true leadership, captain Sadio Mané emerged and called his teammates back out. Twenty minutes beyond full time, the players finally returned to the pitch and the tension was unbearable.

This moment of Sadio Mané instructing his Senegelese teammates to return to the pitch and fight like men will definitely go down in history if Senegal go on to win the AFCON final pic.twitter.com/MjBtmg4A4p

— Henry (@henreiy) January 18, 2026

Brahim Diaz, Morocco's leading man throughout the tournament, stepped up to take the decisive kick. The entire stadium fell silent as the fate of Morocco's 50 year trophy drought rested on Diaz's shoulders. Unbelievably, and almost comically, Diaz attempted a Panenka which fell straight into the arms of Mendy. After staging a protest like no other ever seen before, Senegal were still in the game, skyrocketing into extra time.

🚨🇸🇳🇲🇦 CRAZY moment in AFCON final. In the 97th min, referee awarded a penalty to Morocco.

The Senegal squad were absolutely unhappy and REJECTED the decision. They have LEFT THE PITCH and gone to the dressing rooms. The penalty has still not been taken. (@DiarioOle) pic.twitter.com/iOpXcBsqdP

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) January 18, 2026

Make no mistake, the actions of the Senegal staff and players were unacceptable, and it cast an ugly shadow over the image of African football. But the drama that unfolded was unprecedented, the kind of chaos you couldn’t script even in a movie.

Extra Time: Can We Have More Please?

With their heads burning off their shoulders, Senegal entered extra time with intent. Only 2 minutes into the first half, Pape Gueye picked up the ball just in front of the half way and made a darting run towards the left side of the box before releasing a punishing strike into the top right corner of the goal, striking the underside of the bar before nestling in the back of the net. Justice was served for Senegal in this moment, but now they had to endure the onslaught of the home nation.

His name is Pape Gueye 🤌🏿 pic.twitter.com/Fu1933a4LZ

— African (@ali_naka) January 18, 2026

The main man of Morocco's tournament, Brahim Diaz, was substituted early on in extra time, and Morocco quite literally threw the kitchen sink at Senegal for the remainder of extra time. Sadio Mane played like a man possessed, dropping into midfield to help Idrissa Gueye, and finding himself on the end of clearances from the Senegal defence.

Morocco struggled to break down the compact Senegal side in extra time, flat on their heels, they lacked the spark that got them to this stage of the tournament. Every attack was broken down, every shot was blocked, Senegal's backline was relentless.

Full Time: Triumph for Senegal

After all the commotion, the drama, and the chaos, Senegal stood tallest, lifting their second AFCON crown and carving their names into African football folklore.

• All Senegal players leaves the field
• Mané tell them to come back
• Morocco misses the penalty
• Senegal scores few mins after
• Senegal wins the AFCON

What a player. What a leader. One of the greatest African players of all time. pic.twitter.com/IJa2RKpPYd

— Tandy (@LFC_Tandy) January 18, 2026

It was a second title for Sadio Mané, and perhaps his final AFCON curtain call for the Lions of Teranga, as he leaves Morocco with a legacy unmatched. Undeniably, he is the greatest ever to wear Senegal’s green and gold.

Controversy swirled, the pressure was relentless, and the Moroccan crowd turned the stadium into a storm of noise. Add treacherous conditions into the mix, and still Pape Thiaw’s men found a way, digging deep, refusing to break, and winning against all odds.

AFCON 2026. A tournament we won’t forget.