- 18 Jan 2026 - 22:41(22:41 GMT)
That’s a wrap
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finally concludes as Senegal steal the final in extra time to prevent a home tournament victory for Morocco.
It was a final that had everything, and will be remembered for some unsavoury scenes at the end of regulation time after the hosts were awarded a late but just penalty.
Had Brahim Diaz converted, we would have been telling a very different tale.
We hope you enjoyed our entire coverage of this fascinating tournament, and, on behalf of Kevin Hand and Patrick Keddie, this is Rohan Sharma signing off.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐀 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒. 🇸🇳🏆#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/6nTRDNmKDs
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 18, 2026
- 18 Jan 2026 - 22:35(22:35 GMT)
Senegal lift Africa Cup of Nations trophy
It is finally time for the moment they have all been waiting for.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe is given the honour of handing over the trophy to captain Kalidou Koulibaly, who then hands it to Sadio Mane.
The Al-Nassr forward pretends to lift it a few times before finally hoisting the trophy aloft, to great fanfare and celebration.
Mane is then hoisted onto the shoulders of his teammates, which will be an image forever etched in the minds of all Senegal fans.
Senegal’s Sadio Mane lifts the trophy [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters] 
Senegal celebrate their victory at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat [AFP] - 18 Jan 2026 - 22:33(22:33 GMT)
Match report is now live
There is a lot to dissect after this dramatic final.
Make sure to dive into our comprehensive match report, which you can find here.
Advertisement - 18 Jan 2026 - 22:29(22:29 GMT)
Senegal handed winners’ medals
Now it is time for the newly minted Africa Cup of Nations champions to collect their medals.
- 18 Jan 2026 - 22:27(22:27 GMT)
Morocco receive runners-up medals
A dejected Moroccan side now have to suffer the ignominy of collecting “second-best” medals in a home tournament final.
Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi looks dejected as he receives his runners-up medal [AFP] - 18 Jan 2026 - 22:26(22:26 GMT)
Referees felicitated
They have had their hands full tonight, as they collect their individual medals.
- 18 Jan 2026 - 22:24(22:24 GMT)
Mane named Man of the Tournament
For inspiring his side to this unlikely victory, Senegal’s Sadio Mane is bestowed the tournament’s most prestigious individual accolade.
All three winners, Diaz, Mane and Bounou, then pose for the cameras on the podium.
- 18 Jan 2026 - 22:22(22:22 GMT)
Diaz wins Golden Boot
After putting away five goals in the lead-up to this final, Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz is handed the award.
He is provided with some consoling words from FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Morocco’s Brahim Diaz receives the Golden Boot from FIFA President Gianni Infantino [AFP] - 18 Jan 2026 - 22:21(22:21 GMT)
Bounou wins best goalkeeper award
For conceding just two goals in the tournament, the Moroccan shot stopper is shown some love by the presentation panel.
Advertisement - 18 Jan 2026 - 22:19(22:19 GMT)
Morocco receive Fair Play Award
A forlorn looking Hakimi steps up to collect the first of several tournament awards.
- 18 Jan 2026 - 22:17(22:17 GMT)
Up next on Al Jazeera Sport
Our football coverage continues into next week as we shift our focus to the Champions League.
We have a heavyweight battle on our hands as Arsenal take on Inter Milan on January 20.
The live coverage is set to start at 17:00 GMT, so make sure to tune in.
Raise levels. pic.twitter.com/PFaqdkKJqf
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 18, 2026
- 18 Jan 2026 - 22:13(22:13 GMT)
Trophy carried out
The presentation ceremony is about to start in Rabat as the trophy is brought out and onto the field.
- 18 Jan 2026 - 22:12(22:12 GMT)
Your 2025 Africa Cup of Nations champions
CHAMPIONS ⭐️ ⭐️ 🇸🇳
HISTORIQUE. IMMENSE. LÉGENDAIRE.
Le Sénégal est champion d’Afrique pour la 2ᵉ fois 🏆🏆
Deux étoiles, une fierté éternelle ⭐⭐
Allez les Lions ! 🇸🇳 pic.twitter.com/4OygdO6yMl— Football Senegal (@FootballSenegal) January 18, 2026
- 18 Jan 2026 - 22:08(22:08 GMT)
Pape Gueye is the Player of the Final
After delivering a moment of brilliance to push his side into the lead, Senegal’s Papa Gueye is your Player of the Final.
Super Pape GUEYE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/aIfwvq0Bs2
— Football Senegal (@FootballSenegal) January 18, 2026
- 18 Jan 2026 - 22:03(22:03 GMT)
Morocco hurting
The camera pans from the sheer jubilation of the Senegalese players, then back to the Moroccans, who are looking completely despondent.
The home fans are exiting quietly on a night which promised so much more.
- 18 Jan 2026 - 21:59(21:59 GMT)
Senegal upset Morocco’s hopes of home trophy win
Despite the most acrimonious of endings in the tail-end of regulation stoppage time, Senegal have been able to prevail in this most dramatic of finals.
Pape Gueye’s goal in extra time decided the contest once and for all, despite both sides having several chances to score throughout.
Morocco, who were awarded a penalty opportunity in the dying stages of regulation time, were unable to put it away after a terrible spot kick from Brahim Diaz. From that moment on, the momentum was fully in the visitor’s favour.
Full-time: Senegal 1-0 Morocco
FULL-TIME! 🇸🇳🇲🇦
Senegal win it against Morocco. #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | @tecnomobile pic.twitter.com/qNWGlLjdJM
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 18, 2026
- 18 Jan 2026 - 21:57(21:57 GMT)
Full-time: Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Senegal survive to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations against hosts Morocco!
The players are overcome with joy as Mane races in celebration towards the sideline.
Full-time: Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Advertisement - 18 Jan 2026 - 21:55(21:55 GMT)
Morocco fighting to the end
Senegal are trying to hold onto possession and knock off as much time as possible.
120+2 mins: Senegal 1-0 Morocco
- 18 Jan 2026 - 21:53(21:53 GMT)
Three minutes added
Just three minutes left now for Morocco to take this final to the bitter end.
120+1 mins: Senegal 1-0 Morocco
- 18 Jan 2026 - 21:52(21:52 GMT)
Two minutes remaining
Morocco are mobilising all personnel as they try to eke out a last-minute equaliser.
Senegal are sitting deeper now as they try to manage the clock.
119 mins: Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Senegal vs Morocco 1-0 (after extra time): AFCON final – as it happened
All the updates as Senegal win the AFCON 2025 final, marred by ugly scenes following a controversial penalty.
Published On 18 Jan 2026
This page is now closed, but a summary of the game is available below, and you can click here for our full match report. Thanks for joining us at Al Jazeera Sport.
- Senegal stunned Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final as Pape Gueye’s goal gave them a 1-0 extra-time win in a game marred by unsavoury incidents following a controversial penalty award.
- Several Senegal players walked off the pitch in disgust, and clashes erupted among their supporters after Morocco were given a spot-kick in injury time at the end of normal time.
- The game restarted after a delay of almost 20 minutes, but Brahim Diaz’s penalty was saved, taking the final to extra time, where Gueye scored before Senegal held on to win the continental title for the second time.
- The Senegal team had initially been riled by the referee’s decision to disallow for a foul a goal they scored in the second added minute when Abdoulaye Seck headed off the post at a corner, and Ismaila Sarr nodded in the rebound.
- After Diaz’s penalty miss, however, it felt almost inevitable that a galvanised Senegal would go on to score, and they did so in the fourth minute of extra time to stun the home fans in the crowd of 66,526 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
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