Morocco vs. Senegal: An African Cup of Nations Final for the History
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations promised to be a historic event, and it certainly was, although in a way that no one could have imagined. The final between Morocco and Senegal, played in Rabat, was marked by controversy, tension, and refereeing decisions that generated an atmosphere of chaos. Senegal took the victory, but the road to the title was full of dramatic moments that will be remembered for years.
Morocco’s ambitions, seeking to break a 50-year drought without being crowned African champion, were frustrated. The wait for victory at home did not materialize, and the 15-year vision of the federation’s president, Faouzi Lekjaa, vanished amid controversy.
The match, which extended for more than 20 minutes of added time in the second half, offered a chaotic ending full of mixed emotions. Senegal achieved their second title in the last three tournaments, thanks to a great goal by Pape Gueye in extra time. However, the result was overshadowed by two refereeing decisions that almost caused the suspension of the match.The first controversy arose when Senegal apparently scored the winning goal in added time. However, the referee disallowed the goal for an alleged foul by Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi. The decision, which was not reviewed by VAR, generated protests from the Senegalese team.
Following that, a penalty in favor of Morocco, after a fall by Brahim Díaz, further ignited tempers. The Moroccan player, after receiving the foul, protested angrily, which triggered a chain reaction. The referee, after consulting VAR, awarded the penalty, unleashing the fury of the Senegalese players and fans.The tension between the players and the coaching staff increased, and the Moroccan authorities intervened to prevent the situation from getting out of control.
Senegal’s coach, Pape Thiaw, ordered his players to leave the field, which jeopardized the continuation of the match. The situation was resolved thanks to the intervention of Sadio Mané, who convinced his teammates to return to the field.However, the story didn’t end there. Brahim Díaz, after a long wait, missed the penalty. The shot, a soft “panenka”, was saved by the Senegalese goalkeeper Édouard Mendy. This miss generated speculation about a possible “surrender” by Díaz, tired of the controversies.Morocco’s coach, Walid Regragui, called the match “shameful for Africa”, while Thiaw was criticized for his actions. The incident has sparked a debate about the behavior of teams and the role of VAR in African football.
