Rabat Stalemate: AFCON Final Pushed to Extra Time After Stoppage Drama

In an unprecedented conclusion to regulation time, the 2025 AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco in Rabat remains goalless, heading into a thirty-minute extra time period. Despite Morocco’s high press and Senegal’s disciplined counter-attacks, neither side broke the deadlock in the initial ninety minutes.

The match spiraled into controversy during a staggering twenty-three minutes of added time. After Senegal saw a goal disallowed for a prior foul, Morocco was awarded a ninety-eighth-minute penalty following a VAR review for a foul on Brahim Díaz. The decision sparked a fifteen-minute protest by the Senegalese squad, who briefly threatened to leave the pitch. Upon resumption, Díaz attempted a daring Panenka penalty, but Edouard Mendy remained central to catch the ball easily.

With the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium reaching deafening decibels, the two highest-ranked African nations must now navigate the grueling extra time to decide the continental throne.