The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final delivered high drama, controversy, and an unexpected twist: Morocco, the host nation, lost the title in chaotic circumstances but still claimed the Fair Play Award from the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Here’s a complete breakdown of the chaotic AFCON final explained, why Senegal triumphed, what sparked the mayhem, and how Morocco ended up with the fair play honor despite the uproar.
The Match: Senegal Edges Out Hosts Morocco 1-0
In the AFCON 2025 final held in Rabat, Morocco faced Senegal as hosts chasing their first continental crown. The game stayed goalless through regular time and headed into extra time. Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal early in the additional period, securing Senegal’s second AFCON title with a 1-0 victory. The Teranga Lions showed resilience and composure to lift the trophy on foreign soil.
But the scoreline tells only part of the story—the match will be remembered more for its extraordinary chaos than the football itself.
What Made the AFCON Final So Chaotic?
The drama exploded in the dying moments of regulation time (around the 98th minute). Here’s the sequence of events:
- Referee Jean Jacques Ndala controversially disallowed a Senegal goal (appearing legitimate to many observers).
- Moments later, after VAR review, he awarded Morocco a stoppage-time penalty for a foul on Real Madrid’s Brahim Díaz by Senegal’s El Hadji Malick Diouf.
- This triggered fury from Senegal’s camp. Head coach Pape Thiaw led his players off the pitch in protest, causing a 17-minute delay. Players headed toward the tunnel, with some entering the dressing room amid tensions.
- During the stoppage, crowd unrest erupted, with fans attempting to storm the field in some reports.
- When play resumed, Brahim Díaz stepped up for the penalty and attempted a cheeky Panenka chip—only for Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy to catch it comfortably. Commentators called it one of the “worst penalties” seen in major competitions.
These incidents built on pre-final tensions. Senegal’s federation had issued complaints about logistics, accommodation, training facilities, ticketing, and perceived lack of impartiality from the hosts. Throughout the tournament, other teams (including Nigeria, Mali, and South Africa) raised concerns about alleged gamesmanship by Morocco, such as ball boys interfering (e.g., removing goalkeepers’ towels) and unequal treatment.
The final became one of the most bad-tempered in AFCON history, drawing comparisons to extreme historical controversies and sparking debates about officiating, host advantages, and sportsmanship in African football.
Why Did Morocco Receive the Fair Play Award?
Despite the final’s controversies and perceptions of “stacking the deck” in their favor, CAF named Morocco the Fair Play Team of AFCON 2025. According to CAF regulations (Article 8), the award goes to the team showing the best fair-play spirit during the tournament’s final phase, based on adherence to fair-play rules, discipline, respect for opponents and officials, and overall conduct.
Key points on the decision:
- The award considers the entire tournament, not just the final’s chaotic events.
- CAF highlighted Morocco’s exemplary conduct, discipline, and respect for rules across their campaign.
- While the final drew criticism (including ironic reactions on social media about the “surreal” choice), the governing body focused on broader metrics like fewer cards, positive behavior off the pitch, and competitive spirit in most matches.
Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi accepted the award, though reports noted reluctance from players still reeling from the defeat