Senegal clinched their second Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in a thrilling final on Sunday, defeating Morocco 1-0 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. The match, which captivated fans from start to finish, saw Senegal secure a dramatic win after a penalty save by goalkeeper Édouard Mendy in the dying seconds of regular time, before Pape Gueye struck the winning goal in extra time.

A Tense Encounter with Last-Minute Drama

The final was a tense battle that kept fans on the edge of their seats. As the clock ticked towards the final minutes of regular time, Mendy's crucial penalty save ensured that the match would go into extra time. With the score locked at 0-0, the drama was far from over. In the early moments of extra time, Senegal's Pape Gueye fired a powerful shot into the top corner of the net, breaking the deadlock and securing Senegal’s historic victory.

Key Players Missing for Senegal

Despite missing several key players, including captain Kalidou Koulibaly, midfielder Habib Diarra, and right-back Krepin Diatta, who suffered an injury during the warm-up, Senegal made an energetic start to the match. They created the first real chance of the game when Lamine Camara delivered a brilliant curling cross that found Pape Gueye at the back post. However, Yassine Bounou, Morocco's goalkeeper, was quick to make an important save, denying Gueye an early opener for Senegal.

At the other end, Morocco also came close to scoring. Abde Ezzalzouli whipped in a dangerous cross, but Malick Diouf cleared the ball with a well-timed intervention.

Morocco's Missed Opportunities

Morocco had several promising opportunities to take the lead. In the 14th minute, Ismael Saibari had a chance to break the deadlock after a fast break, but his shot went wide of the target. The hosts were nearly gifted a goal when Ayoub El Kaabi dispossessed Idrissa Gueye and passed the ball to Saibari, but once again, the Moroccan forward couldn’t find the back of the net.

The first half continued with intensity, and in the 38th minute, Senegal had their best chance. Nicolas Jackson released Ndiaye into acres of space, and the Everton forward’s shot looked destined for the goal. However, Bounou was there to make a remarkable save with his leg, keeping the score level at halftime.

Second-Half Action and Head Injury Stoppage

In the second half, Morocco started to dominate possession, and in the 58th minute, they had a massive opportunity to score. Bilal El Khannouss played a perfect pass to El Kaabi, but the striker’s shot went narrowly wide, much to the disbelief of the Moroccan supporters.

Around the 60th minute, the game was halted for more than 10 minutes after a head collision between El Aynaoui and Malick Diouf. Although El Aynaoui required medical attention, he continued to play with his head bandaged up.

Senegal’s Last-Minute Drama and Penalty Save

As the game neared its conclusion, Ibrahim Mbaye, the 17-year-old sensation, came close to scoring in the 89th minute. His shot from the edge of the box was saved by Bounou, and moments later, Senegal thought they had scored from a corner, but the goal was disallowed after a push in the build-up.

With the clock ticking down to full time, the tension reached a fever pitch. Morocco was awarded a penalty after Malick Diouf fouled in the box. Following a VAR review, the penalty was confirmed, but chaos ensued when Senegal fans attempted to storm the pitch, throwing objects and causing a disruption. Riot police intervened as objects flew from the stands, and even Senegal's head coach, Pape Thiaw, appeared to instruct his players to leave the field. However, Sadio Mane stepped in to calm the situation, calling his teammates back to the pitch for the penalty to be taken.

Mendy’s Heroics and Gueye's Winning Goal

In a dramatic turn, Brahim Diaz stepped up to take the penalty. Attempting a Panenka, Diaz’s shot was easily saved by Mendy, sending the match into extra time.

A few minutes into extra time, Senegal finally broke the deadlock. Following a quick counter-attack, Pape Gueye fired a powerful shot into the top corner, giving Senegal the lead. Despite several late chances for Morocco, including a shot that hit the woodwork, Bounou made several key saves to deny Senegal from extending their advantage.

Senegal’s Historic Second AFCON Title

As Morocco pushed for an equalizer in the final minutes, Senegal held strong and managed to protect their slim 1-0 lead. With the final whistle, Senegal secured their second Africa Cup of Nations title, much to the delight of their fans and players alike.

Senegal’s remarkable journey to victory is a testament to their resilience and skill, overcoming the absence of key players and the high-pressure atmosphere of a final on Moroccan soil. Their 1-0 win against Morocco will go down in history as one of the most dramatic and hard-fought finals in recent AFCON history.