Senegal 1-0 Morocco Player Ratings: Brahim Díaz Misses Late Penalty as Senegal crowned AFCON Champions

In a tense and fiercely contested Africa Cup of Nations final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Senegal edged Morocco 1–0 after extra time to claim the continental crown. Despite a scoreline that suggests a narrow victory, the drama and fine margins of this clash defined the night.

The regulation 90 minutes ended deadlocked, with both sides showing tactical discipline and frustration in the final third. Morocco, buoyed by home support, enjoyed more possession (52%) and crafted more opportunities, but clear breakthroughs proved elusive against Senegal’s organised defence. There was absolute drama at the end with a controversial penalty. The Senegal football team walked off the pitch as a protest, but came back later. Brahim Diaz missed the chance to convert as the game went into the extra-time.

The decisive moment arrived deep in extra time. In the 94th minute, Pape Gueye fired Senegal into the lead with a powerful finish, the difference in a game of few clear chances and fine defensive work.

Morocco came agonisingly close to forcing late drama of their own, including a missed penalty deep into stoppage time, but were unable to find the equaliser. One of the best African football teams, Senegal, registered 14 shots to Morocco’s 10 and managed to absorb sustained pressure when it mattered most.

It was a test of nerve, discipline, and resilience, and in the end, Senegal’s extra-time breakthrough was enough to crown them AFCON 2025-2026 champions. Here are Sportsdunua’s Senegal vs Morocco Player Ratings from this AFCON final.

Key Takeaways

• A disciplined, cagey final saw both sides cancel each other out in regulation time, with Morocco missing a crucial penalty late on.

• Pape Gueye’s powerful strike in extra time proved decisive in a game of fine margins.

• Strong defensive organisation and composure under pressure secured the AFCON crown.

Morocco Player Ratings vs Senegal

Here's a look at the Morocco Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Yassine Bounou - 7.5: A solid and reassuring presence between the posts for Morocco. He was called into action four times and dealt with everything thrown his way, including a crucial save from a Pape Gueye header. His distribution was decent, though not perfect. In a final decided by fine margins, keeping a clean sheet is a massive achievement. What stood out to us was his calmness under pressure, especially late in the game.

Defenders

Achraf Hakimi - 7.5: The captain led by example with a typically energetic performance down the right flank. He was a constant outlet, delivering nine crosses and creating three key chances for his teammates. Defensively, he was astute, winning eight of his thirteen duels and making important tackles. From our perspective, he was one of the few players consistently trying to inject quality into the match. A true captain's display.

Noussair Mazraoui - 7.0: Mazraoui was simply immense. He was a rock at the back, winning an incredible nine duels and making five tackles. His reading of the game was superb, snuffing out danger before it developed. He even contributed offensively with a key pass. For us, he was the most complete player on the pitch at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah.

Nayef Aguerd - 5.5: A difficult night for the central defender. We noticed he seemed to struggle with the physicality of Senegal's forwards, getting dribbled past four times and winning just two of his nine duels. While he made five clearances, he looked uncharacteristically shaky. It was a performance that surprised us, given his usual high standards.

Adam Masina - 6.5: A solid if unspectacular outing before his unfortunate injury late in the game. He was tidy in possession and held his own defensively, winning four of seven duels. He didn't offer a huge amount going forward but he did his job effectively. A shame to see him forced off.

Midfielders

Brahim Díaz - 6.0: The man at the center of the drama. He showed great skill to win the penalty in the dying moments, a flash of brilliance that should have won the Africa Cup of Nations. But then... the miss. To have your penalty saved in the 124th minute of a final is a gut-wrenching moment. The rating reflects the entire story, the creativity to win the chance, and the failure to convert it. A truly mixed bag.

Ismael Saibari - 6.0: He was certainly active, taking three shots, but none found the target. He got into good positions but his final product was lacking on the night. We felt he was a bit wasteful in possession at times. An industrious performance, but without the necessary quality in the final third.

Abde Ezzalzouli - 7.0: A livewire on the wing who always looked to make things happen. He had a good shot on target well saved and was a constant threat with his dribbling. However, he also missed a couple of decent opportunities, blazing them over the bar. You can't fault his effort or intent; he just needed a touch more composure.

Bilal El Khannouss - 6.5: A tidy performance from the young midfielder before he was substituted. He created one big chance for El Kaabi and kept the ball moving well with high pass accuracy. He didn't dominate the game, but he was a neat and effective contributor for his 80 minutes on the pitch.

Neil El Aynaoui - 7.0: What a workhorse. El Aynaoui was fantastic in the engine room, breaking up play and protecting his defence. He won a staggering eight duels and drew four fouls, constantly frustrating Senegal's attackers. His 94% pass accuracy shows his composure on the ball, too. An unsung hero's performance.

Forwards

Ayoub El Kaabi - 5.5: A frustrating evening for the striker. He had a big chance to score but couldn't convert it, a moment that could have changed the game. He worked hard and made some good runs, but a striker in a final is judged on goals, and he couldn't deliver one. He was largely anonymous before being subbed.

Substitutes

Youssef En-Nesyri - N/A: Came on for the final 10 minutes but had little time to make an impact.
Oussama Targhalline - N/A: Replaced El Khannouss and helped see out the midfield battle.
Jawad El Yamiq - N/A: An injury replacement for Masina late on.

Manager

W. Regragui - 7.0: His tactical setup was spot on. Morocco were the better team, created more chances, and earned a penalty to win it all. He can't be blamed for his star player missing from the spot. He got his team to the final and put them in a position to win it. You can't ask for much more.

Senegal Player Ratings vs Morocco

Let's have a look at the Senegal Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Edouard Mendy - 8.0: The hero. When his team needed him most, he produced a moment of magic. Saving a penalty in the 124th minute of a final is the stuff of legends. He was booked for his protests, but he won't care one bit. Beyond that moment, he was solid, making a couple of saves to keep his team in the game. A monumental performance.

Defenders

Mamadou Sarr - 7.0: A very composed and mature performance from the defender. He was excellent on the ball, boasting a 95% pass completion rate, and held his ground well against Morocco's tricky attackers. He was a calming influence at the back when others around him were losing their heads. A quietly excellent game.

Moussa Niakhaté - 7.0: Like his defensive partner, Niakhaté was incredibly reliable. He completed 82 of 87 passes and made several important clearances. He wasn't tested in too many one-on-one duels, but his positioning was spot on throughout. A solid, no-frills defensive display.

Antoine Mendy - 5.5: A tough outing for the defender, who struggled to get into the game. He lost possession frequently, and his passing was wayward. It was no surprise to see him substituted after 77 minutes. Not his best night in a Senegal shirt.

El Hadji Malick Diouf - 4.5: A night to forget. He was having a difficult enough game, but to concede a penalty with a clumsy foul so late in extra time is a cardinal sin. He was bailed out by his goalkeeper, but it was a moment of sheer panic that nearly cost his country the trophy. A really poor decision under pressure.

Midfielders

Idrissa Gueye - 6.5: The captain was a steady presence in midfield. He kept possession ticking over with 89% accuracy and did his defensive duties without fuss. He didn't provide any spectacular moments, but he brought experience and calm to the middle of the park. A professional's performance.

Lamine Camara - 6.5: An energetic and combative display from Camara. He created a big chance and wasn't afraid to get stuck in, making three tackles before being subbed off. He did pick up a yellow card for his troubles, but his energy was vital for Senegal. A promising performance.

Pape Gueye - 8.5: He was one of Senegal's best players after scoring the winner for them. He had three shots, with two hitting the target, and was a real force in the air, winning four of his five aerial duels. He battled hard in midfield and tried to drive his team forward. A strong showing in a difficult game.

Forwards

Sadio Mané - 6.5: You could see the frustration etched on his face. Mané tried everything, winning a remarkable 10 duels and constantly trying to dribble past his man. But it just wasn't his night. The final pass or shot was always missing. He worked tirelessly but was ultimately well-marshalled by the Moroccan defence.

Nicolas Jackson - 6.0: A difficult night for the striker, who was often isolated. He battled for everything but lost a lot of his duels and struggled to get a foothold in the game. He did create two chances for others, but offered very little goal threat himself. It was a performance full of effort but low on quality.

Iliman Ndiaye - 6.0: Missed a big chance and that will be what haunts him. He showed flashes of his dribbling ability, but too often it led to nothing. From our perspective, he seemed to lack the confidence to really take the game by the scruff of the neck. A disappointing showing on the big stage.

Substitutes

Abdoulaye Seck - N/A: Came on to shore up the defence.
Ismaïla Sarr - N/A: Added fresh legs on the wing and picked up a yellow.
Ibrahim Mbaye - N/A: Had a late shot well saved by Bounou.
Cherif Ndiaye - N/A: A late replacement for Jackson.

Manager

P. Thiaw - 6.5: His team looked second-best for large parts of the game, but they hung in there. The defensive organization was mostly good, but they rode their luck massively at the end. He'll be thanking his goalkeeper for saving the team after a late lapse in concentration led to the penalty. A pragmatic approach that just about worked.

Player of the Match

Pape Gueye was arguably Sportsdunia's man of the match.

Worst Performer

El Hadji Malick Diouf was the worst performer.