Senegal have won their second Africa Cup of Nations title after edging hosts Morocco 1–0 following extra time in a controversial final in Rabat.

The decisive moment came early in extra time when Pape Gueye scored on the counter to settle a match marked by disputed refereeing decisions and an unprecedented on-pitch protest.

How the final unfolded

The match began cautiously, with both sides probing for openings in front of a packed Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

Senegal’s Sadio Mané and Morocco’s Brahim Diaz tested the goalkeepers early, while set pieces became a key attacking route for both teams.

Ismaïla Sarr and Nicolas Jackson threatened for Senegal, but Morocco keeper Yassine Bounou and Senegal’s Édouard Mendy remained alert.

Morocco pushed forward through Achraf Hakimi and Ayoub El Kaabi, but Senegal’s defence, led by El Hadji Malick Diouf, held firm.

Controversy and chaos

Drama peaked late in the second half when Senegal thought they had scored a winner.

Idrissa Gueye struck the post and Ismaïla Sarr tapped in the rebound, but the goal was disallowed for a foul in the build-up, with the whistle blown before a VAR review could take place.

Minutes later, Morocco were awarded a penalty after VAR ruled that El Hadji Diouf fouled Brahim Diaz.

In protest, Senegal coach Pape Thiaw instructed his players to walk off the pitch, leaving only Mané behind as the match was halted for around 16 minutes.

When play resumed, Diaz chipped the penalty weakly into the arms of Mendy, sending the final into extra time.

The winning goal

Four minutes into extra time, Pape Gueye broke the deadlock.

He raced onto a pass from Idrissa Gueye and fired a left-footed shot into the top corner, silencing the home crowd.

Morocco threw on fresh attackers in search of an equaliser, but Senegal defended resolutely as Mendy made crucial saves to protect the lead.

Why it matters

The victory gives Senegal a second AFCON crown, adding to their 2021 triumph and confirming their status as one of Africa’s dominant football forces.

For Morocco, the defeat extends the long wait for a continental title on home soil, despite reaching the final with strong tournament performances.

The final will be remembered not just for the result, but for the rare walk-off protest and refereeing controversies that shaped its outcome.

Expert and public reaction

Football analysts say the match highlights ongoing concerns about officiating consistency at major African tournaments.

Fans across social media praised Senegal’s resilience, while Moroccan supporters expressed frustration over missed chances and decisions that swung the game.

What’s next

Senegal now turn their focus to World Cup qualification and defending their AFCON crown in the next edition.

Morocco, despite the disappointment, are expected to remain strong contenders, building on the momentum of reaching the final.

As Nigeria’s Super Eagles secured a crucial win over Algeria, drums, music and fan energy transformed a Lagos football viewing centre into a cultural spectacle.

Football, music and national pride converged on Saturday night as Goldberg hosted its Festival of Drums & Light in Dopemu, Lagos, while Nigeria’s Super Eagles defeated Algeria 2–0 to reach the semi-finals.

The match-viewing event at Pako Field drew hundreds of fans, offering a stadium-like experience that blended live football, traditional drumming and music performances.

Why it matters

Public viewing experiences have become an important way Nigerians connect with major football moments, especially as stadium access remains limited for international fixtures.

They also reflect how brands and communities use sport to create shared cultural spaces beyond the pitch.

Drums, culture and anticipation

The evening began with a live performance by veteran singer Yinka Davies, setting the tone before kick-off.

Cultural dancers and more than 100 talking drums filled the venue, their rhythms echoing across the field as fans arrived in growing numbers.

Supporters sang, danced and waved flags as anticipation built ahead of the high-stakes knockout match.

Super Eagles deliver on the pitch

Nigeria took control of the game after the break, breaking the deadlock when Victor Osimhen headed home from a Bruno Onyemaechi cross.

Minutes later, Osimhen turned provider, slipping a pass to Akor Adams, who rounded the goalkeeper to seal the 2–0 victory.

Each goal was met with loud cheers and spontaneous celebrations from fans watching at the venue.

Fans react

“This felt like being inside a stadium,” said one supporter, who attended the viewing centre with friends.

“When Osimhen scored, everyone jumped up at once. You could feel the unity.”

Music takes over after the final whistle

As the match ended, the celebration continued with performances by Zlatan Ibile, Mavo and Segun Johnson, keeping the crowd engaged long after the final whistle.

DJs and hypemen later turned the field into an after-party space, blending music with chants and dancing.

What’s next

Goldberg is set to return to Pako Field on Wednesday for another Festival of Drums & Light viewing event, as Nigeria faces Morocco in the semi-final.

Organisers say the aim is to recreate the same energy and communal experience for fans.

By Shakirudeen Bankole

History is about to be made as two Nigerian professional boxers prepare to face each other in an unprecedented bout for the World Boxing Bureau Heavyweight Championship (WBBHC) title in Lagos, Nigeria.

The fighters are Kabiru Towolawi, a Nigerian based boxer, popularly known as KB Godson, and Ike Ibeabuchi, a Nigerian United States based international heavyweight, nicknamed The President, and whose name still commands reverence in global boxing circles.

The fight, which has been sanctioned by the international boxing governing body alongside the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC), will hold by 11:00am WAT at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, on Wednesday, December 24, with spectators and guests expected to be seated by 10:30am prompt.

The announcement was made at a press conference held earlier on Monday at the National Stadium, Lagos.

Present at the event were dignitaries including Dr Rafiu Oladipo, President of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control, the Secretary General of the board, Mr Remi Aboderin, Mr Miyen Akiri, Promoter of PrizeFightTV and promoter of the championship, and Mr Mark Afonso, philanthropist and Founder of Amala Eko International, one of the event sponsors, among others.

The two fighters, Towolawi and Ibeabuchi, were also physically present, with each expressing confidence and insisting he would defeat the other and emerge champion on fight day.

Speaking at the briefing, Akiri said that in compliance with ethical guidelines governing international championships such as the WBB Heavyweight title, his company ensured that the contracts signed by both fighters, though bound by Non Disclosure Agreement clauses, were fair and beneficial to all parties.

He expressed satisfaction that the contest for such a prestigious title is taking place between two elite Nigerian boxers and on Nigerian soil.

Akiri further explained that he was impressed by the approval and backing received from the international president of the World Boxing Bureau Heavyweight Championship, adding that the special recognition accorded to Dr Rafiu Oladipo underscored Nigeria’s growing relevance in global boxing administration.

“There is no doubt that this is a major event happening in Nigeria for the first time. The WBB Heavyweight Championship has never been contested on African soil before, let alone in Nigeria. This is huge,” he said.

“I have been engaging the international president of the WBB Heavyweight Championship for some time regarding this event. He was pleased with our vision and fully supportive. His approval and support of the event is a direct reward for the hard work and resilience we have shown in promoting boxing in Nigeria.”

Akiri noted that beyond the headline bout between Ibeabuchi and Towolawi, four other championship fights are scheduled for the same day, featuring African titles, women’s titles and other competitive categories.

According to him, the age demographic and gender representation reflect the organisers’ commitment to inclusion and balance in sports.

“We are mindful of the need to carry everyone along, regardless of age or gender, and that is why the event spans multiple categories,” he said.

Speaking in his capacity, the President of the NBBofC, Dr Rafiu Oladipo, said he was pleased with the renewed visibility and momentum boxing activities have gained since his appointment.

He noted that since assuming office, there has been an increase in talent discovery, structured training and competitive bouts at local, regional and now internationally recognised levels.

“The hosting of a WBB Heavyweight Championship fight on Nigerian soil is a testament to our collective hard work,” he said.

Beyond the administrative significance, the fight has stirred deep emotions among boxing faithful across the country, not merely because a championship belt is at stake, but because it represents the convergence of two compelling Nigerian boxing narratives.

On one side is the long awaited return of a once feared heavyweight whose name still echoes across international arenas.

On the other is the relentless rise of a Lagos born fighter who has endured years of punishing bouts, survival fights and bruising knockouts across the local and regional circuit.

For Ibeabuchi, now 52, the night carries the weight of memory and a defiance of time itself.

Born in Isuochi, Abia State, Ibeabuchi rose to prominence in the 1990s as one of the most dangerous heavyweights of his era, thrilling fans with a rare combination of stamina, pressure and raw power.

He remains unbeaten in his professional career, recording 21 wins from 21 fights, with 16 victories coming by knockout.

His dominant wins over former world title challenger David Tua and two weight world champion Chris Byrd remain etched in boxing history, emblematic of a career that once stood on the brink of global supremacy before it was abruptly derailed.

However, his long absence from the spotlight, spanning about 26 years, remains a concern for fans, who feared it could be exploited by a determined opponent.

“I still have the hunger, the fire and the motivation,” Ibeabuchi said. “I still have the training and fitness to do this. I am here to finish my unfinished business by winning the WBB Heavyweight Championship on Wednesday,” he concluded.

He added confidently that he expects to knock out Towolawi before the fifth round.

Yet this is no ceremonial appearance. Standing across him is Towolawi, a battle tested boxer shaped by the gyms and streets of Lagos and hardened by experience rather than hype.

Known as KB Godson, the younger fighter enters the bout in his early forties, bringing with him the physical edge of age alongside the scars of a demanding career.

I’mTowolawi boasts a professional record of 26 wins and 16 losses, with 22 of those victories coming by knockout, a statistic that highlights his reputation as an aggressive and dangerous heavyweight.

A former Nigerian heavyweight champion and a holder of West African regional titles, Towolawi has shared the ring with several seasoned campaigners across Africa and Europe, carving a career defined by grit and endurance rather than glamour.

“I don’t give in to much talk. I will defeat Ike on Wednesday,” he said, with a contagious confidence on his face.

Towolawi’s journey has unfolded largely outside global spotlights, built on difficult matchups, frequent travel and nights where survival mattered as much as technique.

In recent outings, he has remained active and competitive, relying on ring intelligence and experience to stay relevant in a division known for its unforgiving nature.

“I am the beater of the unbeaten! I fight for a living. I will beat him come Wednesday. Especially with a title belt involved, there is no way he is going home with that,” Towolawi said.

Also, those close to Towolawi say this fight represents the culmination of years of persistence, stressing that facing an undefeated legend like Ibeabuchi on such a stage is not intimidation but motivation.

“For Towolawi, beating Ibeabuchi may seem impossible until it is done on Wednesday,” one supporter said.

“The victory would mean more than a belt. It would validate a career shaped by sacrifice, wins and losses alike, and elevate it to a moment of national significance,” one of his supporters who was at the Press Conference said.

Beyond the fighters however, the bout carries deeper symbol for Nigerian boxing.

Major heavyweight title fights on home soil are rare, and staging this contest in Lagos has revived memories of an era when the sport commanded mass attention.

With a promise of “Amala Eko served with assorted meats and delicious soups among other prizes, for the first 1,000 participants, the event even gets more interesting,” Aboderin, the Sec-Gen of NBBofC, said, in his closing remarks.

Fans are already divided on equal separate lines ahead of the match.

While some are drawn to the romance of Ibeabuchi’s unbeaten record and improbable return, hoping the promise of redemption and legacy reclaimed after decades away from the ring. Others who stand firmly behind Towolawi, said the do so because they see in him the embodiment of the Nigerian fighter who never left, who absorbed defeats, celebrated victories and waited patiently for his defining night.

When the bell rings on Wednesday, the noise, sweat and tension will collide in a contest that goes beyond statistics and titles. It will be about age and ambition, memory and momentum, and two Nigerian heavyweights determined to walk out of the ring with history on their side.