Senegal secured their second Africa Cup of Nations title in dramatic and controversial fashion, beating hosts Morocco 1-0 in Rabat on Sunday. The match was overshadowed by a late penalty decision that sparked a mass walk-off, but was ultimately decided by a saved Panenka and an extra-time winner.
Chaos and Controversy in Rabat
The final minute of stoppage time saw referee Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo award Morocco a penalty after a VAR review. He ruled that Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf had fouled Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz in the box. This decision, coming minutes after a Senegal goal had been disallowed at 0-0, ignited fury in the Senegalese camp.
In an extraordinary protest, Senegal manager Pape Thiaw ordered his entire team and staff off the pitch. They headed for the tunnel, followed by some pitch-invading supporters, causing a delay of nearly 20 minutes. Only former Liverpool star Sadio Mane remained, later sprinting to the dressing room to plead with his teammates to return.
The Penalty That Defined the Final
When order was finally restored, Brahim Diaz stepped up to take the spot-kick with the last action of normal time. The 26-year-old attempted a audacious chipped Panenka, but executed it poorly, lifting the ball straight into the grateful hands of Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
The miss sparked immediate criticism of Diaz's decision, with some suggesting the penalty may have been missed intentionally due to the contentious circumstances of its award. After the match, Mendy was directly asked this question.
"No, of course not. We have to be serious," the former Chelsea shot-stopper insisted. "Do you really think that one minute left and a country that has been waiting 50 years for a title, we can reach an agreement? He wanted to score and I deserve credit for stopping him – that's all."
Mendy remained coy about his brief conversation with Diaz before the kick, stating, "What did we say to each other? That's between us."
Extra-Time Glory and Historic Victory
With the penalty saved, the match went into extra time. Senegal struck decisively just four minutes in, with Pape Gueye firing home a brilliant finish to put his side 1-0 ahead.
That goal proved to be the winner, sealing Senegal's second AFCON crown and breaking Moroccan hearts. The hosts, who last won the tournament in 1976, fell short in front of their own fans.
Morocco manager Walid Regragui refused to blame Diaz for the missed penalty. "He had a lot of time before taking the penalty which must have disturbed him. But we can’t change what happened," Regragui said. "That is how he chose to take the penalty. We need to look forwards now."
The victory capped an unforgettable and turbulent final, with Sadio Mane's diplomatic intervention proving crucial in convincing his team to return to the field and ultimately claim the trophy.
