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Pape Gueye's rocket goal was a deserving winner of every game, but Senegal's route to their latest Africa Cup of Nations did not come covered in glory.
Senegal won 1-0 after 120 minutes in Morocco, denying the hosts a trophy.
Well, did they deny it? Or did a poor panenka penalty attempt give the impetus to the visitors?
More to come…
AFCON Final — Senegal vs Morocco final score: 1-0
Pape Gueye 94'
Senegal vs Morocco live updates — by Nick Mendola
Unreal let-off!
Bounou makes a terrific save on Cherif Ndiaye, but the forward follows the ball and looks set to pass it into the goal.
Bounou lunges at Ndiaye and gets a piece of his shin just after Ndiaye fires wide of a gaping goal.
Brave from Senegal!
It's been difficult to root for Senegal after their cartoonish actions following the VAR-awarded penalty but the cross bar and back line just blocked four-straight Morocco strikes early in the second period of extra time.
En-Nesyri close!
A good cross to the near post and a stooping En-Nesyri turns it toward the near post but not inside it!
Morocco still down 1-0 in the 105th minute.
Morocco subs
Diaz and Mazraoui exit for Ilia Akhomach and Hamza Igamane.
PAPE GUEYE GOAL — Senegal 1-0 Morocco
Sadio Mane does so much right here in the build-up but it's Pape Gueye who holds off physical pressure from Hakimi on his right shoulder to crank it across goal and upper 90 with his left foot.
Huge hit. Morocco have less than a half-hour to equalize and/or win.
Extra time — Senegal 0-0 Morocco
A terrible penalty. A terrible panenka effort if there ever was one. Brahim Diaz goes from tournament-leading scorer to potential goat!
Brahim Diaz penalty SAVED
It'll be Diaz to take the penalty, 14 minutes after it was initially awarded via pitchside review.
A terrible panenka effort goes right to Mendy!!
Senegal players go to the room
Only Mane remains on the pitch right now. Is Senegal going to protest the decision?
Morocco's players are on the pitch.
Chaos!
There have been scraps in the stadium and some uneasiness on the field.
The players are being called off the field in the 13th minute of stoppage time, a security concern.
So Youssef En-Nesyri — or whoever is set to take the penalty — will be waiting a long time.
Nicolas Jackson and Bono exchanged shoves just now, too.
Pitchside review
Diouf has his hand on Diaz's neck, and the player hits the deck before the West Ham's man's clearance. It was certainly exaggerated by Diaz.
Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo points to the spot! It's a penalty and Rabat erupts. There will be no reprieve.
Remember: Senegal had a goal overruled for a similar foul at the other end.
The hosts will take a penalty deep in eight minutes of stoppage time.
Senegal score but VAR to come!
Seck and Hakimi exchange pushes and Hakimi hits the turf before Seck heads a corner kick off the frame.
Senegal bury the rebound but a foul is called and VAR quickly backs up the call on the field.
Wouldn't have been surprised to see that go the other way.
Bounou denies Mbaye!
Chances at both ends.
The first sees the PSG teen denied by Bounou after a clever cutback (and an even better set-up pass).
Then it's to the other end, where Abdessamad Ezzalzouli is kept to a tough angle and can't muscle his near-post shot under the bar.
Senegal subs
Abdoulaye Seck and Ismaila Sarr enter the game for Lamine Camara and Antoine Mendy, but the name catching eyes is 17-year-old PSG phenom Ibrahim Mbaye taking the place of Everton's Iliman Ndiaye,
El Aynaoui staying on!
El Aynaoui is going to continue in the game after another layer or three of bandage and a fresh white shirt.
Awful clash of heads
Get ready for a long spell of stoppage time later as Morocco's Neil El Aynaoui (AS Roma) and Senegal's Malick Diouf (West Ham) both went up for a cross and opened up some cuts.
Diouf got the ball just before Aynaoui turned his forehead into the back of his skull, and both are requiring medical care on their cuts.
El Aynaoui is seated now but his head above the eyes is almost completely covered by white bandages and he may need to be taken off the field as he continues to bleed through the cloth.
Should be 1-0 Morocco!
Bilal El Khannouss plays a sensational cross that one of two players could turn inside the posts.
It gets past the first to the best option, and Ayoub El Kaabi just has to turn the ball on goal.
Maybe he's put off by the onrushing goalkeeper, but Kaabi opens his left hip and aims for the far post.
He misses wide by a decent margin. It's one of those chances that can make a neutral start to root for that player's team just to save his brain a lifetime of haunt.
0-0, 59'.
No subs at halftime
Still 0-0, and no tweaks as the teams plan for a possible 120 minutes.
Senegal surprising the hosts
Morocco surely knew the challenge in front of them, but the tournament's top team is so far holding just 40% of the ball.
They're yet to produce a truly dangerous chance, while Senegal could well be in front if not for Bounou's earlier save.
Bounou up to first challenge
The stars are out, as Achraf Hakimi knocks Sadio Mane down to avoid an early cross from the left.
It'll be a dead ball for Senegal, and Villarreal's Pape Gueye heads on target at the back post only for that target to be marshaled out by living legend goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
0-0, 7'.
Can Morocco hold serve?
Host countries winning AFCON are nothing new, although there was a gap between Egypt’s 2006 win and Ivory Coast winning it all in 2024.
Morocco feel like a bit too heavy a favorite in the media and social sphere right now, though, with Senegalese star names like Gana Gueye, Mane, Jackson, and Ndiaye all capable of making a final their own.
This really should be a beauty.
Senegal lineup
Mendy, Diatta, Diouf, Niakhate, Sarr, L. Camara, Gueye, Gana Gueye, Mane, Ndiaye, Jackson
Morocco lineup
Bono, Hakimi, Aguerd, Masina, Mazraoui, El Aynaoui, Saibari, Ezzalzouli, El Khannouss, Diaz, El Kaabi
Senegal vs Morocco: AFCON Final preview
Morocco beat Nigeria on penalty kicks in the semifinals as they aim to win their first AFCON title since 1976 and just the second in their history. Head coach Walid Regragui has done a wonderful job creating and elevating this team to new heights and there is such balance and understanding throughout this Morocco side, as they’ve conceded just one goal in this tournament. Morocco are the 11th-ranked team in the world, making them the top team in Africa and they are one win away from proving it.
But Senegal are ranked 19th in the world and the second best team in Africa, and they have been in incredible form in recent months. Senegal beat Egypt 1-0 in their semifinal thanks to a wonderful late strike from veteran star Sadio Mane. The Lions of Teranga have conceded just two goals throughout the tournament so far and have four shutouts in their six games, as their squad is full of experience and they’re looking for their second AFCON title in the last three tournaments. But suspensions will hit them hard for the final.
Senegal team news, focus
Mane and Iliman Ndiaye have been stars in this tournament and Senegal’s defense has stood strong with Edouard Mendy key in goal. But suspensions have hit Senegal hard with duo Kalidou Koulibaly and Habib Diarra both ruled out of the final due to yellow card accumulation. That is a blow, especially not having Koulibaly around. But with midfielder Idrissa Gueye protecting the back four and so many talented attacking players ready to spring counters, Senegal are so dangerous to play against and will relish the role of underdogs.
Morocco team news, focus
Morocco are unbelievable in defense with Achraf Hakimi, Nayef Aguerd, Adam Masina and Noussair Mazraoui so solid as a back four, while goalkeeper Yassine Bono has starred time and time again in goal. Up top Brahim Diaz leads the tournament in goals and Morocco will have a huge advantage of the majority of the crowd on their side.
Senegal vs Morocco prediction
This should be a tight game with so much on the line but these are two very evenly matched teams. The suspensions for Senegal will work in Morocco's favor. Throw home-field advantage on top of that and the hosts will be victorious. Just. Senegal 1-2 Morocco.
How to watch Senegal vs Morocco live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 2pm ET Sunday (January 18)
Venue: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium — Rabat, Morocco
TV Channel, Stream:beIN Sports USA
