Analyzing the fallout from an emotionally charged AFCON 2025 final

The dust has finally settled on a truly mesmerising showcase of the finest African Football, as Morocco successfully hosted the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025). However, the biggest talking points from the event will mostly stem from a crazy period of stoppage time in the final between the hosts and the eventual champions, Senegal!

What happened in stoppage time during the final of AFCON 2025?

The Teranga Lions of Senegal thought they had taken a priceless lead in the 2nd minute of stoppage time, only for the referee Jean-Jacques Ndala to blow for an infringement after he had adjudged that Achraf Hakimi had been fouled by Abdoulaye Seck in the build-up prior to Ismaila Sarr putting the ball in the net. That was then followed by a lengthy VAR check, and then the decision to award a penalty to the Atlas Lions of Morocco after he felt Malick Diouf had pulled down Brahim Diaz during a corner.

This then led to a prolonged chain of chaotic events, with the Senegalese players, following the instruction of their manager Pape Thiaw (who has since been suspended by CAF for his actions), walked off the pitch and headed to the dressing room in protest of the decision, while their fans also reacted angrily in the stands.

Almost every single son and daughter of the West African nation seemed aggrieved and was ready to vent their anger… all except one… the captain on the day, national icon Sadio Mane, who in the heat of the moment somehow managed to not only maintain his composure, but following a conversation of well-tenured French coach Claude Leroy, overrode the orders of his manager and called his teammate back onto the pitch to end the game with honour. A class act that saved the final on the night and the reputation of the competition!

Morocco still had the chance to win the game and the competition from the penalty spot. That wasn’t going to change. Up stepped Diaz to endear himself to many of his compatriots for generations to come. But he inexplicably decided to attempt a brazen Panenka technique, which, on its day, is breathtaking when it comes off. Sadly for him and many of his countryfolk, that was not the case!

We all know what happened in extra time, as the Senegalese triumphed through a magnificent goal from Pape Gueye to win their second continental crown, and give Mane the perfect send-off as he played his last ever game in the African Cup of Nations! After all the drama we witnessed, we can’t wait to see what the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania have in store for us during their hosting of AFCON 2027!

To enjoy more of our recap of the AFCON 2025 final, kindly watch the video below! (And while you’re at it, do subscribe to our dedicated sports channel on YouTube, TBS Sports Xtra!)

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