Sadio Mane Leadership Saves AFCON Final as Senegal Beat Morocco
Sadio Mane emerged as the defining figure of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final after his calm intervention prevented the match from collapsing into abandonment, allowing Senegal to complete a dramatic victory over hosts Morocco in Rabat.
The final was thrown into chaos deep into stoppage time when a VAR review awarded Morocco a late penalty, prompting an enraged Senegal team, led by head coach Pape Thiaw, to walk off the pitch in protest. With the referee close to abandoning the match, Mane stayed on the field, urging his teammates to return and finish the game.
That moment of authority ultimately preserved Senegal’s title hopes. After a 14 minute delay, the players returned, Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missed the decisive spot kick, and Senegal regrouped to win the final in extra time through a Pape Gueye goal, sealing their second AFCON crown in four years.
The victory mattered far beyond the scoreline. Senegal were chasing continuity after their 2022 triumph, while Morocco were attempting to lift the trophy on home soil. The final will now be remembered as much for its turmoil as for the silverware, with disciplinary investigations still looming over the incident.
Inside a tense Rabat atmosphere, the match had been fiercely contested from the opening minutes. Morocco controlled early possession, Senegal threatened on the break, and both sides traded physical duels in a stadium charged with expectation. Mane remained central to Senegal’s attacking transitions, dropping deep to link play and steady the tempo.
Key incidents defined the contest. A Senegal goal was ruled out earlier in the game, fueling frustration on the bench, before the late VAR intervention pushed emotions to breaking point. Referee Jean Jacques Ndala was surrounded as players argued their case, with the risk of forfeiture suddenly real.
When the decisive moment arrived, Morocco were handed a chance to win the final from the spot. Diaz stepped up under immense pressure but failed to convert, his miss swinging momentum decisively back toward Senegal. Extra time followed, and Gueye struck the winning goal to settle the final on the pitch rather than in the tunnel.
The second half and extra time were shaped by fatigue and tactical caution, but Senegal’s composure gradually told. Mane’s influence shifted from attacking threat to emotional control, guiding a shaken side through the most volatile period of the match.
Late drama dominated the narrative, yet it was the refusal to abandon the field that proved decisive. Former AFCON winning coach Herve Renard later described Mane’s actions as heroic, praising his ability to think beyond frustration and act as a leader when it mattered most.
The result secures another continental title for Senegal and further elevates Mane’s legacy. Already the scorer of the winning penalty in their 2022 triumph, he has now been central to safeguarding their second star, not through a goal, but through authority, clarity, and respect that ensured the final was decided by football.