What Controversy Happened in AFCON 2025 Final? Senegal's Dramatic Protest Explained

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 final between Senegal and host nation Morocco will forever be remembered not just for Senegal's triumphant 1-0 victory, but for the explosive controversy that nearly derailed the match. There were chaotic scenes in stoppage time, where a disputed VAR penalty led to Senegal's players walking off the pitch in protest. This incident overshadowed an otherwise tense showdown, highlighting ongoing debates about refereeing and VAR in high-stakes football.

The Build-Up: A Tense, Goalless Battle

The final pitted defending champions Senegal against the tournament favorites, Morocco. Both teams had navigated a grueling path to the decider, Morocco defeating Nigeria on penalties in the semis, while Senegal edged out Egypt. The match remained deadlocked at 0-0 deep into injury time, with neither side able to break through robust defenses. Tensions were already simmering after Senegal's Ismaila Sarr thought he had scored in the 92nd minute, only for the goal to be controversially disallowed due to a foul by Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi. This decision set the stage for the impending meltdown.

The Spark: Controversial Penalty and Walk-Off Protest

In the 98th minute, referee Jean Jacques Ndala, after a lengthy VAR review, awarded Morocco a penalty for a challenge by Senegal's El Hadji Malick Diouf on Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz. Senegal's head coach Pape Thiaw, furious over what he perceived as biased officiating favoring the hosts, instructed his players to leave the field in protest. The Teranga Lions complied, heading to the tunnel amid stunned silence from the crowd. The walk-off lasted approximately 16 minutes, during which Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy even entered the dressing room.

Chaos ensued in the stands, with Senegal fans clashing with security, breaking through hoardings, and prompting armored police intervention. Sadio Mane emerged as a voice of reason, urging his teammates to return and complete the game. "There is very little positive to say about the end of this game, but one person to come out of it well is Mane," noted BBC Sport Africa's Ian Williams. "He was the one Senegal player who clearly did not want to walk down the tunnel and was telling his team-mates to come back out."

Return, Penalty Miss, and Extra-Time Triumph

Play resumed after the delay, with Diaz stepping up for the spot-kick. His attempted Panenka was brilliantly saved by Mendy, sending the game into extra time. There is debate on whether the penalty miss was intentional as a sign of fair play for having gone down easilt, but I guess we will never know. Just four minutes in, Pape Gueye capitalized on a rebound to score the winner, sealing Senegal's second AFCON title in four years and denying Morocco their first since 1976.

Aftermath: Debates on Fair Play and VAR

The controversy sparked widespread criticism of referee Ndala and CAF's handling of the tournament. Social media erupted with accusations of home bias, with Reddit users calling it "the worst referee in the history of AFCON." Senegal's victory was bittersweet, as the protest risked sanctions, though none were immediately imposed. This event underscores persistent issues with VAR technology, which aims to ensure fairness but often amplifies disputes in crucial moments.

For football enthusiasts pondering "what controversy happened in AFCON 2025 final?", this penalty fiasco and walk-off protest epitomize the raw emotions of the beautiful game. Senegal's resilience turned potential disaster into glory, but the scars of that night in Rabat will linger in African football lore.