Senegal have secured a second Africa Cup of Nations title after beating hosts Morocco 1-0 thanks to a Pape Gueye extra-time winner during what was a chaotic final.
With the match goalless, there were dramatic scenes deep into stoppage time in the second half when Senegalese players, led by their coach Pape Thiaw, walked off the pitch in protest at their opponents being awarded a penalty in the 98th minute.
They had also been angered by a disallowed goal for Senegal minutes earlier at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Substitute Ismaila Sarr thought he had won it for Senegal until Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala ruled out his header for a foul by Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi.
How controversy unfolded in final
And the drama continued into the last minute of the scheduled eight minutes of added time when Morocco were awarded a penalty.
It came after the referee checked replays when Brahim Diaz was pulled down by Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf.
The referee pointed to the spot, prompting a furious Thiaw to send most of his players to the dressing room.
The decision to award the penalty had also led to fights between some of the Moroccan substitutes and their opposing players with Morocco coach Walid Regragui also involved, possibly in a bid to calm the situation.
Senegal fans celebrate. Pic: Reuters
Anger spilled over among the Senegalese fans, with some trying to storm the pitch from behind one of the goals.
The Senegalese players walked off, returning to the field 14 minutes later after being coaxed back by Sadio Mane.
Diaz’s effort from the spot was saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy after the ball was lobbed straight into his arms with the last kick of normal time.
Gueye then scored the winning goal in the fourth minute of extra time when he swept the ball into the top right corner with his left foot.
“We really wanted to win here,” he said. “It was a very difficult match but we gave everything.”
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Pic: Reuters
Morocco coach Walid Regragui said: “We are really disappointed for all the Moroccan people.
“When you get a penalty in the last minute, you can see victory very close, but in the end football catches up with you.
“We congratulate Senegal, even if what we showed of African football was disappointing, given everything that happened when the penalty was awarded.”
This story originally appeared on Skynews
