Morocco’s quest to lift the Africa Cup of Nations trophy on home soil ended in heartbreak after a dramatic extra-time defeat to Senegal in the AFCON 2025 final. The loss extended a historic trend, as all defeats suffered by host nations in AFCON finals have gone to extra time.
Softfootball gathered, the 2025 final joins previous host heartbreaks involving Nigeria vs Cameroon in 2000, Libya vs Ghana in 1982, and Tunisia vs Ghana in 1965. Morocco, buoyed by home support throughout the tournament, had reached the final after edging Nigeria on penalties in the semi-finals.
The final itself was tense and controversial. Senegal strongly protested a penalty awarded to Morocco during added time, a decision that sparked chaos and briefly threatened to derail the match. Despite the tension, play continued, and Senegal eventually found the decisive goal to claim the continental crown.
Earlier in the tournament, Nigeria secured third place by defeating Egypt on penalties, rounding off a dramatic AFCON 2025 that will be remembered for its intensity, controversy, and the continuation of a long-standing curse for host nations in the final.
