Sadio Mané has capped his final Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) appearance by leading Senegal to their second continental title with a 1-0 victory over hosts Morocco in Rabat.
The dramatic final, played on Sunday, January 18, 2026, was decided in extra time, providing a perfect farewell for the Senegalese icon.
Fairytale Farewell
The former Liverpool and Bayern Munich forward, 33, had announced after the semi-final win against Egypt that the final would be his last ever AFCON match.
“I will be very happy to play my last final in the Africa Cup of Nations, to enjoy it and to make my country win,” Mané stated in an interview with RTS, a Senegalese broadcaster.
This emotional declaration put a momentous exclamation point on his stellar international career.
Match Details
The match was a tense, goalless affair in normal time, highlighted by a controversial missed penalty by Morocco’s Brahim Díaz and Senegal players briefly protesting the decision in stoppage time.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 94th minute of extra time when Pape Gueye scored a stunning left-footed strike to silence the home crowd and secure the win for the Lions of Teranga.
Mané was a pivotal figure throughout the tournament, leading his team and inspiring his teammates.
