Senegal briefly walked off the pitch in protest over a late penalty decision but returned to defeat hosts Morocco 1–0 after extra time to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in a chaotic final.
Midfielder Pape Gueye scored the winning goal in the 94th minute on Sunday, shortly after Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missed a dramatic last-minute penalty in normal time. The penalty was taken after a 14-minute delay and proved to be a turning point in the match.
Senegal coach Pape Bouna Thiaw ordered his players to leave the field following the penalty award, but captain Sadio Mane later convinced the team to return. The spot-kick was given after a VAR review by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala, who ruled that Diaz had been pulled down by Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf while defending a corner deep into stoppage time.
Tensions ran high as players and officials argued while the referee reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor, and again when Senegal walked off in protest. When play eventually resumed, Diaz attempted a Panenka-style penalty, but his weak effort was easily saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Senegal’s protest overshadowed what had otherwise been a successful tournament, while the defeat extended Morocco’s long wait for continental success. The hosts have now won the AFCON only once, 50 years ago.
Senegal had already been frustrated earlier when a goal scored in the second minute of added time was ruled out for a foul. Abdoulaye Seck headed a corner against the post, and Ismaila Sarr tapped in the rebound, but the effort was disallowed.
After Diaz’s missed penalty, Senegal looked energised and confident. That belief was rewarded early in extra time when Mane won the ball in midfield and passed to Idrissa Gana Gueye, who set up Pape Gueye to score the decisive goal.
The strike silenced the home crowd of 66,526 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium and sealed Senegal’s dramatic AFCON triumph.
