Senegal won the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), beating hosts Morocco 1–0 after extra time in the final.

Quick Scoop

  • Champion: Senegal (AFCON 2026 winners).
  • Runner-up: Morocco, the host nation.
  • Score in the final: 1–0 to Senegal after extra time.
  • Winning goal: Pape Gueye scored in extra time to seal the title.
  • Key moment: Morocco’s Brahim Díaz missed a high-pressure penalty late in normal time, saved by Édouard Mendy.
  • Significance: This was Senegal’s second AFCON title in recent editions, confirming them as one of Africa’s modern powerhouses.

Mini timeline of the final

  1. Tense 90 minutes with few clear chances and rising pressure on the hosts.
  1. Deep in added time, Morocco earned a controversial penalty, but Díaz’s chipped effort was saved by Mendy.
  1. In extra time, Pape Gueye struck in the 94th minute, giving Senegal a dramatic lead.
  1. Senegal held firm to lift the trophy amid a chaotic, emotional atmosphere in Rabat.

Extra context and buzz

The tournament in Morocco was widely described as intense and dramatic, with Senegal, Morocco, and Nigeria seen as defining teams of the competition. Commentators highlighted Senegal’s resilience under pressure, especially after the disallowed goal and the long delay around the late penalty before extra time. Fans across Africa also celebrated seeing Sadio Mané and his teammates lift another AFCON trophy, reinforcing Senegal’s status as a continental giant.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.