Jalal Morchidi / EPA
Foul that led to the penalty in stoppage time of the CAN final
Goal invalidated before time, penalty in stoppage time, players abandoning the game, the race for the goalkeeper’s towel…
O Senegal won this Sunday Morocco by 1-0, after extra time, and won the African Football Cup of Nations (CAN2025), repeating the 2021 title, in a final in which the Moroccans wasted a penalty at the end of regulation time.
Pope Gueye scored the goal that guaranteed Senegal’s triumph, in the 94th minute, and their second CAN title, after Brahim Díaz, the tournament’s top scorer, with five goals, wasted a penalty in the last play of regulation time.
Senegal’s triumph in the final against the host team is only paralleled by three of the 35 editions of the African Cup of Nations, two of which were led by Ghana, in Tunisia, in 1965, and in Libya, in 1992.
More recently, in 2000, Cameroon won the title against Nigeria, which co-hosted the tournament with Ghana.
The action doesn’t stop
Senegal advances to the final with one from Gueye
— sport tv (@sporttvportugal)
Movie scenes
This would be the summary of a normal final. But this was no normal final.
O tempo extra of the second part had more than 20 minutes. That alone is no longer normal.
But what happened during that period seemed like something out of a movie.
O Senegal scored at 91 minutes. But the referee understood that Seck had made a (very dubious) foul on Hakimi, before the accurate header. Despite huge Senegalese protests, the play did not even go to VAR because the play was interrupted before the goal. Lance cancelled.
At 95 minutes, marked big penalty – also very contested – in favor of Morocco. Many minutes without game. Senegal players leaving the pitch, after an appeal from the coach himself from Senegal. Sadio Mané convinced his compatriots to return later.
« !!!!! »
SADIO MANÉ ASKS EVERYONE TO COME BACK PLAY!!!!!!
WHAT AN EXCEPTIONAL MAN!!!!!!!!
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_)
“Deplorable scenes”, said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
At 23 minutes of extra time, finally the penalty. Brahim Diaz took the penalty “Doll”. Mendy thanked him and defended him.
After all the drama we saw on the field, Brahim Diaz missed the penalty like this
Senegal – Morocco goes to extra time!
— sport tv (@sporttvportugal)
In between, Morocco once again showed its less advisable and more provocative side: ball-catchers, substitutes – all trying to take the towel from Mendy, Senegal’s goalkeeper. It wasn’t the first time.
The Senegal national team goalkeeper’s towel was stolen again, and the Moroccan thief was arrested after attempting to flee
“Morocco, the kingdom of theft.”
— lotfi (@awweze)
After the game, Senegal’s coach, Pape Thiaw, was going to speak in the press room. He heard whistles from Moroccan journalists, from “home”.. He left without speaking.
́ = CONF. POPE THIAW PRESS CANCELED ❌
— BeFootball (@_BeFootball)
