Senegal walk off in chaotic AFCON final, but return to beat hosts Morocco in extra time

January 19 – Senegal have won the Africa Cup of Nations for a second time stunning tournament hosts Morocco 1-0 in extra time in a dramatic final after the West Africans had walked off following a controversial penalty decision.

It was a final like no other, with a denouement like no other: Pape Gueye decided the showpiece event with a ferocious strike, Senegal’s 100th goal in the tournament’s history, in the 94th minute to crown the Lions of Teranga continental champions five years after winning their first title.

But the final will be remembered for different reasons: a controversial penalty preceded by an impromptu walk-off from the Senegalese overshadowed the evening in Rabat.

It was an extraordinary end to what had been a predictable and often dull tournament. Deep into injury time of the match, the hosts were given a soft VAR penalty, but Senegal’s manager Pape Thiaw took his players off the pitch in protest. They then retreated to the dressing room before returning to the pitch after sixteen minutes had passed. From the penalty spot, Brahim Diaz aimed a Panenka straight into the arms of goalkeeper Eduoard Mendy, who stood still and caught it with ease.

As the tournament’s top scorer, Diaz had been one of the outstanding players but there was to be no sixth goal, and no victory for Morocco for the first time since 1976.

Diaz had won the penalty when El Hadji Malick Diouf appeared to drag him to the ground by the forward’s neck as the ball was crossed in. Minutes earlier, a Senegalese goal – a header from Ismaila Sarr – was chalked off for the lightest of tugs on Achraf Hakimi.

The Lions of Teranga then had reasons to feel aggrieved, but the walk-0ff was unprecedented. At the start of extra time, the Senegalese got their justice when Gueye hammered the ball into the net, a strike that would prove the winner.

The match burst open and Morocco came close with two headers from Youssef En-Nesyri and Nayef Aguerd, rattling the bar, but couldn’t find an equaliser. The final itself had been a stalemate with both sides lacking quality in front of goal. Senegal also had to contend with the late withdrawal of Krepin Diatta because of illness and the suspension of captain Kalidou Koulibaly.

It was Senegal’s second Africa Cup of Nations win and testimony to their consistent excellence. They also lost the 2019 final to Algeria. Thiaw has now won the tournament both as player and manager.

His decision to take off his player may prompt disciplinary action, but ahead of the final Senegal had already concerns over inadequate security on their arrival at Rabat’s Agdal station on Saturday morning, objected to receiving only about 2,800 tickets for a 69,500-seat stadium, switched hotels, and expressed dissatisfaction at being instructed to train at the Mohammed VI complex in Salé. Cameroon and Nigeria had previously complained of refereeing decisions going the way of the hosts.

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