Senegal have been crowned champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after surviving a tense, ill-tempered final to defeat hosts Morocco in extra time in Rabat.
Played in front of a charged home crowd, the final lived up to its billing as a clash of continental heavyweights, with intensity, rivalry and pressure defining a match that refused to yield a goal in normal time.
Both sides created openings during regulation play, but resolute defending, last-ditch interventions and moments of wastefulness in the final third kept the contest locked at 0-0 after 90 minutes. Morocco pushed forward with urgency, spurred on by the partisan crowd, while Senegal relied on discipline and tactical control to weather the storm.
The deadlock eventually broke in extra time, when Senegal found the decisive moment that tilted the final in their favour, silencing the Rabat crowd and sparking wild celebrations among the West African supporters.
Tempers flared as fatigue set in, with the match punctuated by heated exchanges and stoppages, underlining the stakes and emotional weight of the occasion.
For Senegal, the victory marks another historic milestone, reinforcing their status as one of Africa’s dominant footballing nations. For Morocco, the defeat was a bitter blow, ending their dream of lifting the AFCON trophy on home soil after an impressive tournament run.
As the dust settles on a dramatic final, Senegal leave Morocco with the continental crown — earned the hard way, in one of the most fiercely contested AFCON finals in recent memory.
