In a staggering conclusion to a previously predictable tournament, Senegal clinched their second Africa Cup of Nations title in a final against Morocco that descended into unprecedented chaos, featuring a mass walk-off, a calamitous missed penalty, and a stunning extra-time winner.
Walk-Off Protest and Penalty Pandemonium
The dramatic finale ignited deep into injury time. With the score level, a VAR review led to a penalty being awarded to Morocco for a foul by Adam Masina on Brahim Díaz. For the Senegalese squad, already aggrieved by earlier decisions and off-pitch tensions, this was the final straw. The majority of Senegal's players stormed off the pitch in protest, with Sadio Mané appearing hesitant before eventually retrieving his teammates from the dressing room after intervention from veteran coach Claude Le Roy.
An astonishing 15 minutes passed between the penalty award and the spot-kick being taken. Díaz, the tournament's standout performer, stepped up only to horribly miscue a Panenka attempt, chipping the ball gently into the grateful arms of a stationary Édouard Mendy. The miss triggered pandemonium in the stands, with advertising hoardings collapsing and a significant police deployment required.
Gueye's Glory in Extra Time
Rejuvenated by their escape, Senegal capitalised swiftly in extra time. Just four minutes into the added period, Pape Gueye surged forward from midfield and unleashed a thunderous shot into the top corner, sealing a remarkable victory. The goal was a moment of pure quality, rendered all the more extraordinary by the absurd circumstances that preceded it.
The match itself had been a tense, tactical affair for 90 minutes. Senegal, missing suspended captain Kalidou Koulibaly and midfielder Habib Diarra, and losing right-back Krépin Diatta to illness moments before kick-off, fielded a youthful defence that performed superbly. Morocco created the better chances in the second half, with Ayoub El Kaabi wasting two opportunities, but neither side could find a breakthrough in normal time.
Repercussions and Context of Tensions
While Senegal celebrated, their walk-off is expected to lead to significant sanctions from tournament organisers, likely aimed at coach Pape Thiaw and possibly the players involved. The protest did not occur in a vacuum. Senegal's camp had voiced several complaints in the lead-up to the final in Rabat, including issues with security, a limited ticket allocation, and training facility arrangements, fostering a siege mentality.
This sense of grievance was compounded by a broader narrative in the knockout stages, where other teams felt Moroccan opponents had benefited from refereeing decisions. The atmosphere was so charged that the appointment of DR Congo's Jean-Jacques Ngambo as the final referee was only confirmed late on the eve of the match.
Ultimately, history will record that Senegal triumphed in Morocco, winning their second Afcon crown despite conceding a 98th-minute penalty in a level final. Yet the story of this victory will forever be the surreal and contentious drama that unfolded, packing a tournament's worth of intrigue into one unforgettable, chaotic night.
