Senegal win AFCON final amid VAR row and walkoutsCEFR B2
26 Jan 2026
Adapted from Adesewa Olofinko, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Victor Rutka, Unsplash
Senegal won the AFCON 2025 final 1-0 against hosts Morocco on January 18, 2026, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. The decisive sequence began with a late VAR review in the 98th minute of stoppage time, which produced a penalty for Morocco. Senegal’s players protested and briefly left the pitch. Play resumed and Brahim Díaz took a Panenka-style penalty that Édouard Mendy saved, and the match went into extra time, where Pape Gueye scored the winning goal.
Post-match tensions were visible: several Moroccan journalists walked out of a press conference when Senegal’s coach, Pape Bouna Thiaw, entered. The International Sports Press Association and other foreign reporters criticised the walkout as unprofessional. Senegal had already filed formal complaints during the week about crowd safety and the team’s treatment on arrival in Morocco.
Other tournament incidents fuelled anger, such as videos showing ball boys removing opposing goalkeepers’ towels and repeated criticism of refereeing and late VAR interventions. Samuel Eto’o was sanctioned by CAF with a fine and a ban over his conduct after a match he saw as unfair. Observers linked these controversies to Morocco’s frequent hosting of recent African events:
- CHAN 2018
- U‑23 Africa Cup 2023
- U‑17 Africa Cup 2025
- Women’s Africa Cup 2024 and AFCON 2025
Commentators also noted Morocco’s wider political history and criticised CAF for a lack of rigorous accountability. Senegal’s victory raised the nation to 12th in the FIFA world rankings, and Morocco reached its highest ranking despite narrowly missing the title. While organisers were praised for modern stadiums and good logistics, many say the tournament’s legacy will be shaped by the controversies that followed.
Difficult words
- stoppage time — Minutes added after normal play ends
- penalty — A kick awarded for a foul near goal
- protest — To show strong disagreement publiclyprotested
- extra time — Additional play time after a draw
- sanction — Official punishment such as a fine or bansanctioned
- controversy — Public disagreement or argument about actionscontroversies
- logistics — Planning and organization of events and transport
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How might the late VAR decision and the penalty affect fans' trust in refereeing at future tournaments? Give reasons from the article.
- What responsibilities should hosts and organisers have for crowd safety and the team arrival experience? Use examples from the text.
- Do you think the tournament’s legacy will be more affected by the quality of the stadiums and logistics or by the controversies described? Explain your view.
