A disallowed Senegal objective within the 93rd minute. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) controversially awarding a penalty to Morocco. Senegal gamers staging a walk-out, inflicting a 14-minute delay. Brahim Diaz’s embarrassingly fluffing the panenka. And Pape Gueye scoring a screamer in additional time to guide Senegal to the African Cup of Nations title.
The Afcon remaining on Sunday night time between hosts Morocco and Senegal descended right into a farce. Senegal gained 1-0 however the title was overshadowed by the drama that unfolded within the stoppage time on the finish of the match. After the VAR awarded a penalty towards them, the Senegalese gamers have been ordered off the sphere by their coach Pape Bouna Thiaw, with some gamers going again to the dressing room. It was solely after Sadio Mane satisfied them to get again on the sphere that the sport continued – after a 14 minute holdover.
The penalty was awarded following a VAR test by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala after Brahim Diaz had been tugged to the bottom by Senegal full again El Hadji Malick Diouf whereas defending a nook 5 minutes into stoppage time.
This wasn’t the primary time refereeing was questioned through the event, with many groups alleging poor calls by the officers, however staging a walkout was unexpected.
Senegal’s Sadio Mane holds the trophy aloft as he celebrates with teammates after profitable the Africa Cup of Nations remaining. (AP Photograph/Youssef Loulidi)
The lengthy delay between the awarding of the penalty, after a prolonged VAR evaluate and Senegal’s protest, and the taking of the kick was adopted by a lame effort from Morocco’s star participant Diaz, who has been central to the crew’s fantastic run to the ultimate. Nevertheless, his chilled effort was simply saved by Senegal goalkeeper Eduard Mendy. Morocco coach Walid Regragui stated the delay didn’t assist Diaz.
🎥 HIGHLIGHTS: 🇸🇳 1–0 🇲🇦
Pape Gueye does it for Senegal. The #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 champions. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/GCGC1ULEFf
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 19, 2026
Then, 4 minutes into additional time, Gueye scored a beautiful objective that led Senegal to a different African title.
Regragui, nonetheless, stated Senegal’s protests would injury the picture of African soccer. “The picture we’ve given of Africa is shameful,” stated Regragui. “A coach who asks his gamers to depart the sphere … What Pape did doesn’t honour Africa. He wasn’t elegant. However he’s a champion, so he can say no matter he desires.”
Thiaw, the Senegal coach, was jeered by the Moroccan journalists within the post-match press convention, which was referred to as off. He might face sanctions for his actions, in keeping with Reuters.
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