The President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has declared today a national holiday after AFCON glory. The holiday is to celebrate the Teranga Lions’ historic AFCON 2025 title win.
The Teranga Lions defied all odds to clinch their second trophy after winning it in 2021, defeating Egypt on penalties.
The match saw a goalless draw during the first half of the most controversial AFCON final in history. Many instances cause the final outcome to be very poor and unprecedented. The following factors triggered the disturbances and chaotic scenes:
The referee awarded a penalty to Morocco in the 90+8 minute for a foul on Brahim Díaz. No one from Senegal was happy with the decision (they had just had a goal disallowed in the 90+2 minute and felt the contact on Brahim wasn’t penalty-worthy). So, coach Pape Thiaw, furious, asked his players to leave the pitch as the player complied.
After several minutes of protests, and in a moment of chaos, Sadio Mané, the captain and greatest legend of the country, asked his teammates to return to the field. They did. Mendy went in goal. Brahim Díaz took the penalty, Panenka-style, and Mendy saved it.
However, Senegal took the lead with a stunning goal from Gueye in the dying minutes of the game, securing the win and claiming their second AFCON trophy.