The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final descended into chaos earlier today, January 18, as Senegal’s players walked off the pitch in protest after a late VAR decision awarded Morocco a controversial penalty deep into stoppage time.
What had been a tense, fiercely contested final took a dramatic turn in the 98th minute when referee Jean-Jacques Ndala was summoned to the pitchside monitor following a challenge inside the Senegal penalty area. After reviewing the incident, the official pointed to the spot, sparking furious reactions from the Senegal bench and players.
Morocco had been pressing relentlessly in the closing moments, forcing corners and crosses into the box as the clock ticked beyond the regulation 90 minutes. One such attack saw a Moroccan forward brought down while bearing down on goal, an incident initially waved away before VAR intervened.
As the referee confirmed the penalty decision at 90+8 minutes, Moroccan players celebrated, while Senegal’s footballers surrounded the official in protest. Yellow cards followed swiftly, with El Hadji Malick Diouf and Ismaila Sarr cautioned for dissent as tempers flared.
Moments later, Senegal’s players abandoned the pitch, refusing to allow the penalty to be taken and effectively halting the final. Stadium officials and match delegates attempted to calm the situation, but the standoff dragged on as confusion spread across the ground.
Before the dramatic finale, the match itself had been a battle of fine margins. Senegal threatened early through set pieces, with Pape Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye both forcing saves from Morocco goalkeeper Bono. Morocco responded with sustained pressure, led by the tireless overlapping runs of Achraf Hakimi, whose deliveries repeatedly tested the Senegal defence.
Both sides suffered injury scares in a bruising second half, while chances came and went. Abde Ezzalzouli went close on several occasions for Morocco, while Edouard Mendy produced a stunning save late on to deny a point-blank effort.
The flashpoint arrived in added time after eight minutes were signalled, stretching to over 16 as stoppages mounted. VAR’s intervention proved decisive, but also explosive.
Officials are expected to issue a formal statement on the incident, with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) set to review the unprecedented ending to the AFCON final. For now, the fate of the match and the title remains shrouded in uncertainty.