RABAT: Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game.
Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands.
But Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted ‘Panenka’ chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
The game at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium then went to extra time, and Gueye’s brilliant 94th-minute strike handed them the title.
“We had a feeling of injustice. Just before the penalty we thought we should have had a goal and the referee didn’t go to VAR,” said match-winner Gueye, who added that Sadio Mane had urged the team to come back onto the pitch for the penalty.
“Sadio told us to come back on and we remobilised. Edouard then made the save, we stayed focused, got the goal and won the game.”
The controversial penalty was awarded by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala right at the end of the allotted eight added minutes in normal time following a VAR check for a challenge on Diaz by El Hadji Malick Diouf.
The Moroccan team vehemently protested to the referee to check the images, but the decision to eventually give the spot-kick was met with fury by Senegal and their fans.
As most of their players walked off the pitch, some Senegal supporters at the opposite end of the stadium threw chairs and other objects and attempted to get onto the field of play.
They were eventually contained by a large barrier of police and stewards, and their anger turned to delight when the penalty was saved.
The Senegal team had initially been riled by the referee’s decision to disallow for a foul a goal scored by Ismaila Sarr in the second added minute. – AFP
