Senegal 1-0 Morocco: Gueye's winner in extra time hands Senegal 2nd AFCON title

Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in an extraordinarily chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final, with Pape Gueye scoring an extra-time stunner after the Lions of Teranga had walked off the pitch and refused to play following the awarding of a late penalty.

Match Report

Brahim Diaz had the chance to win the trophy for the hosts with the final kick of regulation time, with the decision to penalise El Hadji Malick Diouf for dragging Diaz down prompting Senegal coach Pape Thiaw to lead his players back to the dressing room.

That spot-kick was awarded in the fifth minute of stoppage time but not taken until the 24th after Senegal's players returned, and Diaz's Panenka was easily caught by Edouard Mendy.

That set the stage for Pape Gueye's piledriver to clinch Senegal's second AFCON triumph amid a tempestuous atmosphere in Rabat, in what may have been Sadio Mane's final game at the tournament. 

The first 90 minutes were relatively quiet, compared to the pandemonium that followed. Iliman Ndiaye and Nayef Aguerd missed big chances late in the first half, before Ayoub El Kaabi skewed wide from close range in the 58th minute.

A nasty collision between Diouf and Neil El Aynaoui left the latter with blood pouring from his head, and though he was able to continue, the eight-minute delay caused by the incident ensured there was a lengthy period of second-half stoppage time.

Senegal had the ball in the net in the first added minute, with Ismaila Sarr nodding in from beneath the crossbar after Idrissa Gueye's header bounced off the post, but referee Jean-Jacques Ndala had already blown the whistle for a soft foul on Achraf Hakimi. 

Already incensed by that decision, Senegal were downright furious when Diaz won his late penalty, with bizarre scenes ensuing as Thiaw told his players to leave the pitch and Mane urged them to play on.

When play finally resumed, Diaz's chip barely left the ground and was gathered by Mendy, with the Real Madrid forward in tears as the final whistle sounded.

And Morocco's woes were compounded three minutes into the additional period, as Pape Gueye bundled his way to the edge of the box before firing a rocket of a shot into the far corner.

There was still time for Aguerd to head against the crossbar and Cherif Ndiaye to somehow shoot wide of a totally open goal, with the full-time whistle sparking wild celebrations among those in green.

Data Debrief: Gueye ends drought as Senegal reign supreme again

Somehow, some way, Senegal are champions of Africa for the second time, having defeated Egypt on penalties following a goalless draw in the 2021 showpiece.

Pape Gueye's blockbuster was actually the first goal the Lions of Teranga have ever scored in an AFCON final, having also lost on spot-kicks following a 0-0 draw with Cameroon in 2002, and gone down 1-0 to Algeria in 2019.

At the end of 120 (or more) minutes of drama, Senegal had fired off 14 shots, hitting the target with seven, and amassed 1.75 expected goals (xG). Morocco had 20 shots and 2.19 xG, but only hit the target three times.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

4' Gueye has a thumping header, but Bounou recovers to block with his chest

23' First yellow card of the game as Camara recklessly catches Neil El Aynaoui

37' Ndiaye has a one-v-on chance but Bounou is quick off his line and saves it

57' How's he miss?! El Kaabi side-foots his effort narrowly wide

61' Match Event for Senegal vs Morocco

65' El Aynaoui heads the back of Diouf's head and both are down getting treatment

79' El Kaabi is replaced by En-Nesyri and Targhalline is on for Bilal El Khannouss

89' Match Event for Senegal vs Morocco

90+24' Penalty Missed! Brahim tries a Panenka and Mendy doesn't need to move!

94' GOAL! Gueye shrugs off Hakimi and hammers a strike! Senegal 1-0 Morocco

Line-ups

Senegal XI: Gueye, Mane, Edouard Mendy, Niakhate, Pape Gueye, Antoine Mendy, Iliman Ndiaye, Nicolas Jackson, Mamadou Sarr, Lamine Camara, El Hadji Malick Diouf

Subs: Mory Diaw, Habib Diallo, Abdoulaye Seck, Yehvann Diouf, Sarr, Cherif Ndiaye, Ousseynou Niang, Pathé Ciss, Ismail Jakobs, Cheikh Sabaly, Boulaye Dia, Pape Sarr, Mamadou Lamine Camara, Mbaye

Morocco XI: Bounou, Masina, Mazraoui, Aguerd, Hakimi, Brahim, A. El Kaabi, Neil El Aynaoui, Ismael Saibari, Abde Ezzalzouli, Bilal El Khannouss

Subs: Munir, Mohamed Chibi, Saiss, Amrabat, El Yamiq, En-Nesyri, Soufiane Rahimi, Anass Salah-Eddine, Oussama Targhalline, Youssef Belammari, Ilias Akhomach, El Mehdi Al Harrar, Hamza Igamane, Chemsdine Talbi, Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal