Senegal players stormed off the field in the Africa Cup of Nations final. Better times were ahead

Rabat: Senegal stormed off the field in protest at a penalty awarded against them before returning to beat hosts Morocco 1-0 in extra time to win the Africa Cup of Nations amid farcical scenes in Sunday’s final.

Midfielder Pape Gueye scored the 94th-minute winner after Morocco’s star player Brahim Diaz had squandered the chance to win it for the home side by fluffing the last-gasp penalty in regular time following a 14-minute delay that included the Senegal walk off.

The foul

Senegal coach Pape Bouna Thiaw ordered his players off, and it was left to former Liverpool player Sadio Mane who persuaded them to return.

The penalty was awarded following a VAR check by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala after Diaz had been tugged to the ground by Senegal’s El Hadji Malick Diouf while defending a corner five minutes into stoppage time.

The penalty is given

Officials and players jostled with each other while the referee consulted the touchline screen and again when Senegal walked off.

Once the players returned to the field, Diaz inexplicably tried a Panenka-style chip, and his weak penalty sailed tamely into the arms of Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Senegal storm off

Senegal’s actions will be seen as a major blight on an otherwise successful tournament, although the defeat continued Morocco’s poor record in the tournament, which they had previously won only 50 years ago.

Senegal, who have won twice in the last three editions of the cup, handed top-ranked Morocco their first defeat in 27 internationals.

Mane calls his team back

Gueye’s powerful shot gave Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou no chance, but he was forced into several other key saves, as was his counterpart Mendy in an end-to-end match.

“We really wanted to win here,” Gueye said. “It was a very difficult match, but we gave everything.”

Senegal return

Senegal’s every move was jeered by an ear-splitting cacophony of whistles from the 66,526-strong crowd, but they were undaunted as they took the game to Morocco.

Senegal had the ball in the net two minutes into stoppage time in a goalmouth scramble, but Abdoulaye Seck had pushed Achraf Hakimi in the build-up, and it was ruled out.

The penalty kick

“We are really disappointed for all the Moroccan people,” said their coach Walid Regragui.

“When you get a penalty in the last minute, you can see victory very close, but in the end, football catches up with you.

Senegal score

“We congratulate Senegal, even if what we showed of African football was disappointing, given everything that happened when the penalty was awarded.”

Reuters

Most Viewed in Sport

Loading