Senegal has successfully claimed its second Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in history, defeating tournament hosts Morocco in a dramatic and highly controversial final. The decisive match, held on January 18 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, saw Senegal emerge victorious with a hard-fought 1-0 scoreline, cementing their place as African champions for the second time.
The fiercely contested final was marred by significant controversy, leading to a substantial 14-minute delay in play. The flashpoint occurred deep into stoppage time, specifically in the 98th minute, when Morocco was awarded a penalty kick. This crucial decision followed a foul inside the box by Senegal’s Malick Diouf on Moroccan forward Brahim Diaz. After a review using the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, the match official upheld the decision, granting the host nation a pivotal opportunity to equalize from the spot.
The award of the penalty ignited a furious reaction from the Senegalese bench. Their coach, visibly discontented with the referee’s call, instructed his players to leave the field, leading them towards the dressing rooms despite the match not yet being concluded. Simultaneously, several Senegalese players remained on the pitch, engaging in heated arguments with the referee regarding the incident. This escalated into physical altercations between players and coaching staff from both sides, further intensifying the already volatile atmosphere. The tension spilled into the stands, where Senegalese supporters clashed with stadium security personnel, with some attempting to invade the pitch in response to the perceived injustice and their team’s predicament.
It was the leadership of star forward Sadio Mane who ultimately intervened, appealing to his teammates to return to action. Recognising the potential damage to the team’s reputation and the spirit of sportsmanship, Mane successfully persuaded his fellow players to re-enter the field and complete the remaining minutes of the match, which amounted to less than five minutes of actual play after the lengthy delay.
Despite the tumultuous circumstances, Morocco’s top scorer in the tournament, Brahim Diaz, stepped up to take the pivotal penalty kick. However, his effort was heroically saved by Senegal’s goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, keeping Senegal’s hopes alive and preventing a Moroccan equalizer. The match then stretched into additional periods of extra time, comprising two 15-minute halves. In the 94th minute, during these extended periods, Pape Gueye seized a crucial opportunity to net the decisive goal for Senegal, securing a dramatic 1-0 victory and the championship.
This triumph marks Senegal’s second AFCON title in five years, following their initial victory in 2021. The post-match press conference further highlighted the lingering animosity. Morocco’s coach, Walid Regragui, openly criticized his Senegalese counterpart, Pape Thiaw, for the decision to walk off the field before the official conclusion of the match. Regragui expressed strong disapproval, stating, “I believe a significant amount of time passed before Brahim Diaz took the penalty, and that caused him to lose focus. When a coach calls players off the field like that, they are employing a strategy that lacks sporting integrity… What Pape did tonight did not add value to African football.” Conversely, the Senegalese coach chose not to offer any comments during his press conference, reportedly departing abruptly after being subjected to taunts from Moroccan journalists upon entering the room.
