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Senegal were crowned champions of Africa for the second time in five years, but their Africa Cup of Nations triumph over hosts Morocco will be remembered as much for its chaos as its football.
What should have been a grand finale in Rabat descended into confusion and controversy after Senegal briefly refused to continue play when Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty in a goalless final. Tempers flared, players walked off, fans spilled towards the pitch, and the image of African football took a bruising hit before order was eventually restored.
Yet from the disorder emerged a familiar champion. Senegal regrouped, refocused, and ultimately prevailed, winning 1–0 in extra time through Pape Gueye to lift the AFCON trophy once again.
The Flashpoint
The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time. In the 98th minute, referee Jean Jacques Ndala, after consulting the pitchside monitor on VAR advice, ruled that defender El Hadji Malick Diouf had fouled Morocco’s Brahim Diaz in the box.
The decision detonated the stadium.
Just moments earlier, Ndala had disallowed a Senegal goal by Ismaila Sarr for a foul in the build-up, a call that had already left head coach Pape Thiaw incensed. The penalty award proved the breaking point. Thiaw instructed his players to leave the field in protest, and several complied, disappearing down the tunnel as confusion spread across the arena.
Sadio Mané, Senegal’s talisman and senior figure, remained on the pitch, urging calm and pleading with teammates to return. Objects were thrown from the stands, security struggled to contain agitated supporters, and the final teetered on the brink of abandonment, all under the watchful eyes of FIFA president, Gianni Infantino.
After a delay of approximately 17 minutes, Senegal returned.
Redemption at the Spot, and Beyond
Morocco were handed a golden chance to win the title. Diaz, the tournament’s top scorer with five goals, stepped up to take the penalty. But his audacious Panenka attempt lacked conviction and was comfortably gathered by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who barely moved.
The save proved decisive. Ndala blew for full time at the end of regulation, and extra time followed.
Four minutes into the additional period, Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye struck the winning goal, sealing a dramatic and deeply contentious victory for the Lions of Teranga.
Diaz was later substituted, crestfallen, as Morocco’s wait for a first AFCON title since 1976 continued.
Mixed Reactions, Public Apologies
In the aftermath, Morocco coach Walid Regragui condemned Senegal’s walk-off as “shameful” and said it did not “honour Africa.”
Thiaw’s scheduled post-match press conference was cancelled after disorder broke out in the media room. However, speaking to BeIN Sports, the Senegal coach struck a more conciliatory tone.
“We didn’t agree,” Thiaw said. “I apologise to football. You can react in the heat of the moment. We shouldn’t have done it, but it’s done.”
He admitted responsibility for ordering his team off the pitch and accepted that refereeing decisions, however painful, must ultimately be endured.
Leadership on the Pitch
Mané, widely praised for his calming influence, was blunt in his assessment.
“The world was watching,” he said. “We have to give a good image to football. You don’t stop a final because of a referee’s decision. I’d rather lose than see this happen to African football.”
Goalkeeper Mendy echoed that sentiment, revealing that Mané played a key role in convincing the team to return.
“We did it together, we came back together, and we won together,” Mendy said. “That’s what matters.”
Match-winner Gueye added: “We felt injustice. But Sadio told us to come back, Edouard made the save, and we stayed focused.”
A Tournament Overshadowed
The chaotic final cast a long shadow over a tournament that had otherwise been praised for its organisation. Morocco earned widespread acclaim for infrastructure, logistics, and hospitality, with stars like Mohamed Salah openly commending the hosts.
Yet the scenes before the Diaz penalty, players leaving the field, fans breaching security, officials under siege, are likely to linger in memory, particularly with Morocco set to co-host the FIFA World Cup in four years.
The controversy also revived simmering debates over refereeing and VAR at the tournament. Throughout AFCON, social media buzzed with accusations of inconsistent officiating and claims, fair or not, that hosts Morocco benefited from marginal calls, placing immense pressure on match officials long before the final whistle.
Tension Before Kick-Off
In truth, the final was played against a backdrop of rising tension. Before Sunday’s match, the Senegal Football Federation had raised “serious concerns” about security and logistics, citing incidents in Rabat where players and staff were swarmed by fans. Complaints also included hotel conditions, ticket allocations, and the lack of access to a training pitch.
“That type of thing should not happen between two brother-countries,” Thiaw said before the final. “My players could have been in danger.”
Those grievances, unresolved, added combustible fuel to an already high-stakes encounter.
Triumph, with an Asterisk
Senegal’s victory was ultimately deserved on resilience and composure when it mattered most. But it came wrapped in controversy that left scars on the competition’s reputation.
AFCON ended not with unbridled celebration, but with uneasy reflection, a reminder that while African football continues to grow in talent and ambition, credibility, calm, and trust in officiating remain battles still to be fully won.
Senegal lifted the trophy. African football, however, was left searching for answers.
