Senegal Triumphs at AFCON 2025 as Morocco's Final Dream Falters
19 January 2026
Match Recap
Senegal edged Morocco 1-0 to lift the Africa Cup of Nations, denying the hosts a dream ending in front of their home fans.
Morocco had a golden chance late in the game with a spot-kick that Ibrahim Diaz squandered, denying them the lead and forcing extra time where Senegal found the winner.
The Moroccan press reflected heartbreak with headlines like “The dream ends,” lamenting the final outcome as the national team fell short of the title.
The coverage continued with quotes about an unlikely scenario where the dream of AFCON glory evaporated before their eyes.
French-language outlets summarized the moment: Senegal clinched the AFCON title for the second time in their history while Morocco’s hopes were dashed.
Other papers described celebrations marred by dramatic moments after the match, underscoring the emotional rollercoaster of a final played in front of a passionate audience.
Additional headlines echoed: “Diaz’s penalty sinks the Moroccan dream; Senegal crowned African champions amid dramatic scenes,” and “The 2025 edition: Morocco fails to crown their title bid after losing to Senegal.”
Diaz’s miss became the defining moment of the night, with outlets recounting how one kick altered the arc of the tournament for a nation.
And so the day closed with reflections on a campaign that promised much but delivered a heartbreak in the final, as Senegal celebrated their moment under the spotlight.
Punchline 1: If the dream had a goalkeeper, it would have saved itself—unfortunately, reality still knows where the net is.
Punchline 2: Morocco learned that in football, sometimes the script writes itself, but the actors still have to score the lines—tonight, the line went to Dakar.
