Playing in the final of a continental tournament is already something special, but with the Africa Cup of Nations being held on home soil, it was almost a dream come true for Bilal El Khannouss. Almost... because on Sunday evening, things did not quite go according to plan. The VfB attacker’s Morocco team went down to Senegal, with Pape Gueye scoring the only goal of the game in extra time after the regulation 90 minutes finished goalless.
As he had been in the round of 16, the quarters and the semis, El Khannouss was in the starting XI and played 80 minutes, winning his 33rd cap for the Atlas Lions.
VfB would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Bilal on an amazing tournament and cannot wait to see him back in Stuttgart.
How the tournament played out for Bilal El Khannouss and Morocco
Group stage
21 December 2025, Morocco - Comoros 2-0 (14 minutes)
26 December 2025, Morocco – Mali 1-1 (19 minutes)
29 December 2025, Morocco – Zambia 3-0 (unused substitute)
Round of 16
4 January 2026, Morocco – Tanzania 1-0 (90 minutes)
Quarter-final
9. Januar 2026, Marokko – Cameroon 2-0 (68 minutes)
Semi-final
14 January 2026, Morocco – Nigeria 4-2 after penalty shootout (84 minutes)
Final
18 January 2026, Morocco – Senegal 0-1 after extra time (80 minutes)
