Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz panenka-ed what would have determined Morocco's AFCON 2025 fate vs Senegal. But what if he had scored that goal?
Nigeria arrived in Morocco as one of the most feared sides of the AFCON 2025 tournament, scoring 14 goals and sweeping past opponents with authority.
Their journey ended only after a painful penalty shootout defeat to the host nation, which, to me, shook every Nigerian who watched.
Yet the Super Eagles regrouped to defeat Egypt in the third-place match to restore what I will call “parity”. For me, however, the story did not end with Nigeria’s exit. As a journalist, I had to put emotion aside and follow the tournament to its climax.
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By the time Morocco prepared to face Senegal in the final, there was already a sense of déjà vu. What happened to Nigeria against the hosts felt like a warning of what might unfold again.
Conversations with fellow journalists on the road from Marrakech only deepened that feeling. Calvin Emeka Onwuka, publisher of ACL Sports, reflected on how difficult it was to face Morocco at home and insisted that on neutral ground, Nigeria would have beaten them convincingly, just as they had Algeria earlier in the competition.
The atmosphere, the officiating and the weight of 60,000 home supporters, he argued, had tilted the balance.
Senegal vs Morocco: A chaotic build-up in Rabat
The signs of disorder appeared even before kick-off. I received a late email from CAF confirming my accreditation for the final between Morocco and Senegal.
Knowing how hostile and overcrowded the stadium would be, we left for the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium as early as 3:00 pm for a 7:00 pm kick-off.
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Access was restricted to the media tribune, with no mixed zone and no press conference available. Later, it became clear that only selected journalists were being granted full access.
That was the first moment I sensed something was wrong. I went straight to the media stand, uneasy about the height of the massive stadium but determined to focus on the game.
The opening ceremony came and went, the noise from the stands was overwhelming, and the match began under an intense atmosphere.
Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala soon became the centre of attention, making decisions that drew loud protests from players and supporters from both teams.
Brahim Diaz: Moment everything changed
Deep into stoppage time, Brahim Díaz appealed for a penalty after a Moroccan player went down in the box. The referee initially waved play on. But after sustained protests and deafening boos from the crowd, Ndala signaled for a VAR review and pointed to the spot.
What followed was unprecedented in my experience. Senegal head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw ordered his players to walk off the pitch in protest. In the section of the stadium occupied by Senegalese supporters, frustration exploded. Fans who had been dancing topless in the cold turned on stewards, destroying property and clashing with security.
Watch how Senegalese fans lost it after Ndala awarded a penalty:
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‘Had Díaz scored that penalty’ kept ringing in my mind—and I’m sure in the minds of many others. The stadium might not have survived the night.
Relations between Moroccans and Senegalese are usually peaceful, with many Senegalese living in Morocco and sharing language and daily life. But that moment threatened to tear apart the fragile calm.
After Sadio Mané pleaded with his teammates to return, the game resumed. Díaz stepped up and missed the penalty. I mean, he Panenka-ed it into the palms of former Chelsea goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy. The match, delayed by more than 15 minutes, staggered back into motion.
Then came the decisive moment when Pape Gueye surged forward and unleashed a stunning strike from the edge of the box into the top corner. This same moment took me down memory lane when Sunday Mba made the same strike to hand Nigeria their third AFCON title in 2013.
Senegal were champions, winning their second Africa Cup of Nations title. Morocco’s dream of lifting their first AFCON trophy in 50 years vanished in a single swing of Gueye’s boot.
Escape from Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium
Anticipating the anger of Moroccan supporters, I left the stadium early. A few miles away, as the final whistle blew, Senegalese fans flooded the roads in celebration. My own journey continued quietly towards home.
Watch Senegalese fans jubilate after winning the AFCON 2025 trophy:
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At the train station, emotions were raw. Some Moroccan fans mistook me for a Senegalese supporter. I had to explain repeatedly that I was Nigerian. One man joked that I should return to my country—which I was already preparing to do.
CAF’s verdict: heavy sanctions
Yesterday, CAF’s Disciplinary Board delivered its judgment on the chaos of the final.
Senegal head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw was suspended for five CAF matches and fined USD 100,000.
Players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr were each banned for two matches for their conduct towards the referee.
The Senegal FA was fined USD 300,000 for the behaviour of supporters, another USD 300,000 for the conduct of players and officials, and USD 15,000 after five players were booked.
Morocco were also punished
Achraf Hakimi received a two-match suspension, with one match suspended for a year. Ismaël Saibari was banned for three matches and fined USD 100,000.
The Moroccan FA was fined USD 200,000 for the behaviour of ball boys, USD 100,000 for invading the VAR area and obstructing the referee, and USD 15,000 for the use of lasers by supporters.
CAF also rejected Morocco’s protest against Senegal and confirmed that the result of the final would stand.
AFCON 2025 final will be remembered for the wrong reasons
Senegal will be remembered as champions, and Gueye’s goal will live in AFCON history. But the Morocco 2025 final will also be recalled as a night of fear, a night of fury and a night of fracture—a match where football lost control of itself for long minutes. A night when Díaz may have unknowingly spared African football from disaster.
It was more than a game for those who watched from the stands and the press box. It was a lesson in how thin the line is between celebration and chaos, and how quickly the spirit of football can be overshadowed when trust in officiating and order collapses.
