Several top European football clubs have taken to social media to react following Senegal’s victory over Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final held on Sunday. According to LMSINT MEDIA, the Teranga Lions edged past the Atlas Lions with a narrow 1–0 win after extra time, sealing the match after 120 minutes to emerge as champions of the tournament. The decisive moment of the final came through Pape Gueye, whose solitary strike proved enough to separate both sides and hand Senegal the prestigious AFCON trophy. Earlier in the encounter, Morocco were handed a golden opportunity to level proceedings, but Brahim Díaz failed to convert from the penalty spot. His effort was successfully stopped by Senegal’s goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy, who played a crucial role in maintaining his side’s advantage. Following the final whistle, a number of European clubs publicly acknowledged Senegal’s triumph and the performances of their players involved in the competition. Below are reactions from ten European teams, as gathered from posts shared on X by LMSINT MEDIA after Senegal’s victory in the AFCON final. Bayern Munich congratulated their representative, posting:“Congratulations Nico & Senegal!! AFCON Champions.” Manchester United shared words of encouragement for Morocco’s defender, stating:“Commiserations to Nous, after Morocco were beaten in the #AFCON final. We are proud of your journey.” Villarreal celebrated the achievement in glowing terms, writing:“African champion and national HERO! Pape Gueye’s Senegal are champions of the #AFCON25 after defeating Morocco in the final (1-0) with a stunning goal from the Yellow Submarine’s star in extra time! We are so proud of you, Pape! Congratulations.” AS Monaco also reacted, highlighting their players’ success:“CHAMPIONS Senegal. Lamine Camara and Krépin Diattá win the Africa Cup of Nations! Congratulations also to our former player Ismail Jakobs!” Crystal Palace extended their congratulations, saying:“Huge congratulations to Ismaïla Sarr and Senegal on winning the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.” Everton marked the occasion with a celebratory message:“Lighting up our home for you, Senegal! Proud of our #AFCON2025 champions. See you in a few days, lads!” @GaindeYi and @Fsfofficielle.” Lazio, posting in Italian, acknowledged Senegal’s success through one of their players:“Senegal di Dia ha vinto la Coppa d’Africa. Complimenti, Boulaye.” Tottenham Hotspur kept their message brief but impactful, stating:“AFCON champion. Congratulations, Pape!” Paris Saint-Germain highlighted their player’s involvement while also recognizing Morocco’s run:“Ibrahim Mbaye, winner of the #AFCON2025. Congratulations also to Achraf Hakimi for his run in the competition.” Olympique Lyonnais rounded off the reactions with praise for their representative:“Proud of you Moussa, our African Champion #CAN2025.”
Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has issued a firm caution to Senegal, urging them to prepare for an intense and hostile match atmosphere when they face Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday. According to Chelle, the occasion will feel less like a neutral final and more like a difficult away fixture at one of the competition’s most intimidating grounds. Chelle made this statement following Nigeria’s exit from the 2025 AFCON semi-final, where the Super Eagles were eliminated by Morocco after a dramatic 4–2 penalty shootout loss at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. The semi-final encounter remained tightly contested throughout normal time and extra time, ending without a goal. The match was ultimately decided from the penalty spot, where Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou emerged as the hero. His crucial saves denied Nigerian attackers Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi, sealing Morocco’s place in the final. Speaking later at the Mohammed V Stadium—the venue for Nigeria’s third-place playoff against Egypt—Chelle reflected on the upcoming final between Morocco and Senegal. While expressing respect for both teams, he directed a clear message to Senegal’s head coach, Pape Thiaw, regarding the scale of the challenge ahead. “I have a lot of respect for both coaches and I don’t really have advice to give,” Chelle stated. “But what I would tell Pape is simple: Senegal will be playing an away match, and not an ordinary one.” He went on to emphasize the overwhelming influence of the Moroccan supporters and the venue itself. “The stadium is massive and the crowd is extraordinary. The supporters push their team constantly. We often describe fans as the twelfth man, but here, it goes beyond that. The crowd plays a much bigger role.” Chelle stressed that Senegal must remain mentally disciplined if they hope to succeed in such an environment. “They will need maximum concentration from start to finish. I sincerely wish both teams the best. They have both earned the right to contest this final, and as an African, I am proud of what they have achieved in this tournament.” Despite his praise for the finalists, Chelle did not hide his personal disappointment over Nigeria’s failure to reach the final. However, he commended his squad for their overall performance throughout the competition. “To be honest, I’m disappointed to be here because my expectations for this tournament were much higher,” he admitted. “After the loss to Morocco, I reminded the players to stay confident. They had a very strong tournament and should be proud of themselves.” From a logistical standpoint, Morocco may enjoy a significant advantage in the final. While Senegal have played all of their matches in Tangier, Morocco will be featuring in their seventh match in Rabat, further reinforcing their familiarity with the conditions and fan support. Historically, the final also carries major significance for both nations. Senegal are preparing for their fourth AFCON final appearance and their first since 2021, while Morocco will be contesting only their second final, with their previous appearance dating back to 2004.
