Senegal claimed their second Africa Cup of Nations title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over hosts Morocco after extra time, as Édouard Mendy delivered a commanding performance to anchor the Lions of Teranga to glory in the 2025 final.
Played in a charged atmosphere on Moroccan soil, the decider demanded composure, resilience and precision.
Senegal supplied all three, with their goalkeeper emerging as the defining figure on a night shaped by fine margins and unrelenting pressure.
Mendy’s authority between the posts proved decisive, most notably when he produced a crucial penalty save against Brahim Díaz in stoppage time, a moment that preserved parity and carried Senegal into extra time with belief intact.
That intervention came at a critical juncture.
With the match delicately poised and the crowd urging Morocco forward, Mendy’s calm under pressure steadied his team.
It was a save that did more than deny a goal; it shifted momentum and reaffirmed Senegal’s conviction that their opportunity would come.
When it did, the West Africans made it count, edging ahead in extra time to secure the trophy.
After the final whistle, Mendy spoke with clarity and pride, framing the victory in broader terms than a single match.
“Look, things happened, and in the end, what matters is that football won, and that football is Senegalese. Today, we came to Moroccan soil, hostile territory. They’ve been waiting for this trophy for 50 years; they had everything in their favor. We only had the ball and our weapons. We responded in the best possible way, and we’re bringing the Cup back to Senegal.”
His words reflected both the challenge Senegal faced and the manner in which they overcame it.
Throughout the final, the team remained tactically disciplined and defensively secure, absorbing pressure without losing shape.
Their approach was measured rather than flamboyant, rooted in collective responsibility and the experience of players accustomed to high-stakes occasions.
Morocco pressed with intensity and ambition, encouraged by a partisan crowd and the weight of expectation.
Yet Senegal’s back line held firm, and when breaches threatened, Mendy was there with assured handling and sharp reflexes.
His performance underscored why he is regarded as one of the continent’s leading goalkeepers, capable of delivering on the biggest stage.
The victory adds a second AFCON title to Senegal’s record, reinforcing their status among Africa’s elite and validating a tournament run built on consistency and control.
For Mendy, it further cements his standing as a reference point in his position, a player whose influence extends beyond saves to leadership and calm.
In the end, Senegal’s triumph was not defined by spectacle alone, but by timing, discipline and resolve.
Against formidable opposition and in testing circumstances, they found a way to prevail. As Mendy put it, football did win — and on this night, it wore Senegalese colours.
