MOROCCO 0-1 SENEGAL
(Pape Gueye 94’)
BY OUR REPORTER IN RABAT
SADIO MANE cemented his legacy as the greatest African player of his generation last night, leading Senegal to a historic AFCON glory that left a nation in raptures and the hosts in ruins.
On a night of pure, unadulterated drama in Rabat, it wasn’t the Mane goal the world expected, but it was his relentless spirit that dragged the Lions of Teranga to their second-ever continental crown.
The “King of Senegal” had already hinted this would be his final AFCON, and he ensured he went out with the ultimate prize.
The Drama in the Desert
The match will be remembered for decades—not just for the football, but for the sheer chaos that nearly saw the final abandoned.
In a scoreless stalemate at the end of 90 minutes, Senegal players sensationally walked off the pitch after a controversial penalty was awarded to Morocco in the dying seconds.
After 20 minutes of frantic negotiations and a stadium on the brink of a riot, the game resumed.
Brahim Diaz, Real Madrid’s golden boy, stepped up for the hosts, only to fluff his lines with a tame “Panenka” that was easily gathered by Edouard Mendy.
With the momentum shifted, Senegal struck like a cobra just four minutes into extra time. Pape Gueye—the midfield engine—swiveled on the edge of the area and lashed a left-footed rocket into the top corner, silencing the 50,000-strong home crowd.
Morocco, captained by a tireless Achraf Hakimi, threw everything at the Senegalese wall. Even Yassine Bounou came up for a late corner, but the Lions held firm.
As the final whistle blew, Mane fell to his knees. While the younger stars like Nicolas Jackson and Iliman Ndiaye represent the future, this night belonged to the veteran.
”I told the boys to stay calm,” Mane said, clutching his winner’s medal. “We have worked too hard to let it slip. To win it here, in Morocco, is the perfect ending.”
For Morocco, it is a bitter pill. They were the tournament favorites and the darlings of the continent after their World Cup heroics, but they found that when it comes to African finals, the Lions of Teranga simply refuse to be tamed.
