Senegal beat hosts Morocco to win AFCON 2025 after farcical walk-off

by | Jan 18, 2026 | World

Pape Gueye scores in 1-0 win after extra-time after Senegal leave the field in protest at penalty decision.Senegal stormed ‍off the field in protest at a penalty awarded against them before returning to beat hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra-time and win the ⁠Africa Cup of Nations amid farcical scenes in the ​final.Midfielder Pape Gueye netted the 94th-minute winner on Sunday after ‍Morocco’s star player Brahim Diaz had squandered the chance to win it for the home side by fluffing the last-gasp penalty ‍in normal ⁠time following a 14-minute delay amid chaotic scenes.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listSenegal coach Pape Bouna Thiaw ordered his players off and it was talisman Sadio Mane who persuaded them to return.The penalty was awarded following a VAR check by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala after Diaz ​had been tugged to the ground ‌by Senegal full back El Hadji Malick Diouf while defending a corner kick five minutes into stoppage time.Officials and players jostled with each ‌other while the referee consulted the touchline screen and then again when ‌Senegal walked off.Once the players returned ⁠to the field, Diaz inexplicably tried a Panenka-style chip and his soft penalty effort sailed tamely into the arms of Senegal goalkeeper Edouard ‌Mendy.Senegal’s actions will be seen as a major blight on an otherwise successful tournament although defeat continues Morocco’s poor ‍record in the tournament, which they only previously won 50 years ago. Diaz misses a penalty with a weak panenka [Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters]The Senegal team had initially been riled by the referee’s decision to disallow for a foul a goal they scored in the second added minute when Abdoulaye Seck headed off the post at a corne …

Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source