Under the pouring rain of Rabat, Senegal ground out a historic victory to secure their second AFCON title in three editions. The decisive moment came in the first period of extra time when Pape Gueye collected a pass from Idrissa Gana Gueye, surged into the box, and drove a clinical left-footed finish past Yassine Bounou.

The match will be remembered for its explosive conclusion to regulation time. Morocco was awarded a late penalty, prompting a protest that saw Senegal's players briefly walk off the pitch. When play resumed, Brahim Díaz’s audacious "Panenka" attempt was easily gathered by Édouard Mendy, a miss that proved fatal for the hosts' ambitions.

Morocco head coach Walid Regragui lamented the missed opportunity: "We lost on the details. When you miss a penalty, everything turns against you. It's unfortunate for the Moroccan people, but we'll come back stronger." Meanwhile, Senegal coach Pape Thiaw praised his side's resilience after the team apologized for the mid-game walk-off.