Senegal vs Morocco Afcon Final: Pape Gueye Goal, VAR Penalty Drama, Senegal Champions
Senegal vs Morocco Pape Gueye ke extra-time goal ne Senegal ko Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) 2025 ka doosra khitab dila diya, jab final match ka end high-voltage drama, VAR controversy aur crowd chaos ke saath hua. Normal time ke aakhri lamhon me Senegal players ka pitch chhodna aur Morocco ke Brahim Diaz ka injury time (24th minute) me penalty miss karna, is final ko Afcon history ke sabse zyada discussed matches me shamil kar gaya.
Penalty ka decision VAR intervention ke baad aaya, jiske baad touchline par zabardast halla, coaches ka aamna-saamna aur fans ka pitch par ghusne ki koshish dekhne ko mili. Senegal supporters aur security ke beech clashes ne situation ko aur bhi tense bana diya. Itni lambi delay ke baad jab Brahim Diaz penalty lene aaye, to un par 50 saal purani Morocco ki Afcon trophy drought todne ka bhaari pressure tha. Lekin Panenka try karna unke liye mehenga sabit hua, kyunki Edouard Mendy ne bina hile ball ko easily collect kar liya.
Pure 90 minutes me match kaafi tight raha, jahan clear goal chances bahut kam the. Match ke end par jo unsavoury scenes dekhne ko mile, woh African football ke liye achha signal nahi the—khaaskar jab Morocco is Afcon ko 2030 FIFA World Cup co-hosting ke test event ke taur par dekh raha tha. Extra time ke 4th minute me Gueye ke goal ke baad dono teams ko mauke mile, lekin Morocco ke Nayef Aguerd ka powerful header crossbar se takra kar bahar chala gaya, jo equaliser ke sabse kareeb pal tha. Rabat ki baarish ke saath hi Morocco ka 1976 ke baad pehla Afcon title jeetne ka sapna bhi dhul gaya.
Match ke baad Senegal ka celebration justified tha, kyunki unhone haar ke muh se jeet chheen li. Lekin riot gear me police aur fans ke beech khade players ka scene is baat ka saboot tha ki final ka end kitna chaotic aur tense raha. 2021 Afcon final me Egypt ko penalties par hara kar champion bane Senegal, is baar bhi kaafi wahi core players ke saath utar kar back-to-back title jeetne me kaamyab rahe. Sadio Mane, jo shayad apna aakhri Afcon khel rahe the, is jeet ka ek emotional symbol ban gaye.
Is baar Teranga Lions ko hosts Morocco ke khilaaf Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium ke fiery atmosphere me khelna pada. Finals me dono teams ki yeh pehli takkar thi. Pehle half me Morocco ne possession aur control dikhaya, lekin better scoring chances Senegal ke paas rahe. Yassine Bounou ne Gueye ke header par brilliant save kiya aur Iliman Ndiaye ko bhi deny karke apni class dikhai. Second half me Morocco zyada aggressive dikha, lekin clear-cut chances banana unke liye mushkil raha.
Injury time me controversy aur badh gayi jab Ismaila Sarr ka goal soft foul ke chalte cancel kar diya gaya. Iske baad VAR penalty decision, benches ka pitch par aa jana aur fans ka aggression—sab kuch is final ko one of the most controversial Afcon finals ever bana gaya.
World rankings me Africa ki top team Morocco is tournament me destiny ke saath utari thi. King Mohammed VI ke long-term football investment ka nateeja tha Qatar 2022 World Cup semi-final, lekin Afcon 2025 ka final unke liye heartbreak ban gaya. Pape Gueye ka thunderous left-foot strike, Hakimi ko shrug off karte hue, is match ka title-winning moment raha.
Chahe controversies kitni bhi ho, Senegal ko koi farq nahi padta. Agar yeh Sadio Mane ka final Afcon tha, to unhone trophy haath me liye, captain’s armband pehne, teammates ke kandhon par uth kar ek perfect farewell diya—ek aisi tasveer jo Afcon history me hamesha yaad rakhi jaayegi.