African Cup of Nations final: Senegal’s euphoria and Morocco’s devastation

🚀 Read this trending post from BBC Sport 📖

📂 **Category**:

📌 **What You’ll Learn**:

Andalusia via Getty Images Senegalese fans wearing clothing and accessories in the colors of the national flag gather around the African Renaissance Monument, chanting and singing in support of their team.

Senegalese President Basserou Diomaye Faye declared Monday a public holiday after the national team won the Africa Cup of Nations after defeating tournament host Morocco 1-0 in a thrilling final on Sunday.

An unaccounted goal, players leaving the field, and a penalty kick saved made it a tense night in the stadium of the Moroccan capital, Rabat.

In the Senegalese capital, Dakar, fans were excited as they gathered in front of an outdoor screen at the foot of the giant African Renaissance Monument.

As the match unfolded, the tension was too much for some to handle.

Reuters: A Senegalese fan covers his face with a football shirt printed with the number 10.

The moment when Moroccan Brahim Diaz converted the penalty kick that would have given his country its first African Cup of Nations title in 50 years was an unwatchable moment for this Senegalese fan.

But his miss and Senegal’s subsequent extra-time goal were met with euphoria in Dakar.

Senegalese football fans cheer as they watch the final match of the Africa Cup of Nations between Senegal and Morocco in Dakar.

“What just happened is divine,” Mohamed Diop, a fan, told Reuters news agency. “The scenario as if it were a Netflix series is crazy.”

AFP via Getty Images A Senegalese fan celebrates in the fan zone at the African Renaissance Monument in Dakar

The other side of the coin, of course, was the devastation inflicted on the Moroccans at the Fan Park in Salé.

ANP via Getty Images A Moroccan fan puts her hands in front of her face. Other fans around look sad.

“Maybe next time,” one man told Reuters. “We have good players. Now we have to get back to work so we can win in 2027.”

Moroccan fans who were watching the match in the Dutch city of Eindhoven were also shocked by the penalty kick that Diaz missed.

AFP via Getty Images Fans gather at the Dinamo cultural venue to watch the Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal, in Eindhoven, on a big screen.

But back in Dakar, once the final whistle blew, the party began.

Reuters Two Senegalese fans wearing national colors cheer as they get out of a moving car.

AFP via Getty Images Senegalese football fans celebrate at the African Memorial Square in Dakar. A fan wearing a Mexican wrestling mask waving a Senegalese flag stands across the roof of a car that also has the flag on its hood.

Reuters Fans lean out the windows of a minibus in celebration.

AFP via Getty Images Senegalese supporters carry a torch as they celebrate in Oukam, Dakar. The image is bathed in red light from the flare.

Modou Yassine Diop, one of the team’s fans, told Reuters, “We really needed to win. This team showed me courage and seriousness. We gave everything we had. We really thank Sadio Mane, he gave us everything.”

Senegalese fans in the Italian city of Milan also took to the streets.