Morocco’s Ten-Man Extra-Time Fight: Senegal Holds On in a Nail-Biting AFCON Final

Match context

Morocco faced Senegal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final at the Mohammed V Stadium in Rabat, with extra time looming after regulation ended level. The Atlas Lions pressed on, hoping to crown a remarkable campaign in front of their home fans.

Late substitutions and turning points

Morocco pushed on with ten players for most of the extra period after an early second-half substitution, with Hamza Egman coming on in the 98th minute for Nasser Mazraoui to spice up the attack.

Babi Gaye delivered the shock moment for Senegal with a rocket in the 94th minute, giving the Lions of Teranga the lead and forcing Morocco to chase a leveller while Walid Regragui shuffled his attacking options.

Moments after his arrival, Egman sustained an injury and left the pitch, leaving Morocco to battle on with 10 men for almost the entirety of the extra time as all substitutions had already been used.

And yet the drama persisted, a reminder that in football, suspense often outstays the clock and the crowd still finds a way to gasp at the final whistle.

Punchline 1: If suspense were a weapon, this final would be a bazooka—the ball kept shooting hits right at the edge of a goal, and the crowd kept begging for mercy from the referees’ stopwatch.

Punchline 2: Morocco defended with the stealth of a cat in pajamas—tenacious, surprising, and somehow still asking for a few more minutes of mercy from fate.