The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final between Senegal and Morocco in Rabat will be remembered not only for Senegal’s victory, but also for the shocking chaos that erupted during the match.
Senegal were crowned champions after a dramatic and tense final, but emotions boiled over in stoppage time.
Trouble started when Senegal players believed they had scored a clear goal that was wrongly ruled out and not reviewed by VAR. This decision angered the Senegal camp and fans across Africa.
Moments later, Morocco were awarded a penalty, a decision that further fueled the tension. In protest, Senegal players briefly walked off the pitch before captain Sadio Mané intervened and convinced them to return.
Drama continued when Morocco’s Brahim Díaz attempted a cheeky panenka-style penalty, but he missed after Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy stayed calm.
The match took an even stranger turn when Senegal’s substitute goalkeeper, Yehvann Diouf, got into a heated confrontation with ball boys and Moroccan officials. The fight was over Mendy’s towel, which Diouf was using to help the keeper maintain grip in the rainy conditions.
Videos online showed Moroccan players, including captain Achraf Hakimi, trying to remove or throw away the towel, leading to a brief on-field scuffle.
Fans on social media reacted with disbelief, with one commenting: “Others are fighting for the trophy. Morocco is busy fighting for a towel.”
Despite the distractions and pressure, Senegal stayed composed. Pape Gueye scored in extra time, sealing a historic win for the West African giants.
Senegal’s triumph added another AFCON title to their cabinet, but the final will go down as one of the most chaotic and controversial matches in the tournament’s history, raising serious questions about officiating and player conduct.
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