Senegal Triumphs in AFCON Final Marred by Chaos and Controversy
Senegal emerged victorious in a tense Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday. The match descended into chaos before Senegal ultimately secured the trophy with a 1-0 win over Morocco.
Drama Unfolds at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium
The final took place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Both teams remained deadlocked at 0-0 as the game entered deep injury time. The situation then escalated dramatically.
Morocco received a penalty after a VAR review. The decision came for a challenge on Brahim Diaz. This call infuriated the Senegalese players and staff.
Senegal's Fury Leads to Pitch Walk-Off
Senegal already felt aggrieved moments earlier. The referee had disallowed a Senegalese goal for what many considered a soft foul. Officials did not consult VAR for that incident.
When the penalty was awarded to Morocco, Senegalese players reacted with visible anger. Several players walked off the pitch in protest against the decision.
The chaos spread to the stands. Senegal supporters attempted to enter the field of play. They clashed with security personnel during the disturbance. The match halted for nearly twenty minutes as authorities restored order.
Critical Penalty Save Changes Momentum
Play eventually resumed. Brahim Diaz stepped up to take the crucial penalty for Morocco. He attempted a weak Panenka-style chip. Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy read the attempt perfectly and made a comfortable save.
This moment proved decisive. Senegal regrouped during extra time. Pape Gueye scored a brilliant goal just four minutes into the additional period. His strike became the only goal of the match.
Historic Victory for Senegal
Senegal celebrated their second AFCON championship. Their first title came four years ago in Cameroon against Egypt. That final required a penalty shootout to determine the winner.
Gueye's goal carried special significance. It marked Senegal's first ever goal in four AFCON final appearances.
Players and Coach Reflect on Chaotic Events
Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye spoke about the team's emotions. "We felt a strong sense of injustice," Gueye explained. "Right before the penalty, we believed we should have had a goal. The referee didn't check VAR for our disallowed goal."
Gueye credited teammate Sadio Mané with helping the team refocus. "Sadio told us to return to the pitch and remobilize," he said. "Edouard then made that important save. We maintained our focus, scored the goal, and won the game."
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw admitted his mistake in the heat of the moment. "After reflection, I realized I shouldn't have asked the players to walk off," Thiaw told French broadcaster beIN Sports. "I apologize for that decision."
Thiaw acknowledged the difficult circumstances. "Sometimes reactions happen in the heat of the moment," he said. "We had scored what we thought was a valid goal that wasn't given. But we accept that referees can make mistakes, and we apologize for our reaction."
Gueye expressed the team's satisfaction with their achievement. "We feel tremendous pride in this victory," he stated. "We wanted to win tonight. Everyone saw what happened at the end of the match, but we made the decision to return to the pitch and give everything. That's exactly what we did."
