Olushola Omogbehin
Senegal has claimed another Africa Cup of Nations title on Sunday after beating the hosts nation, Morocco 1–0 after extra time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
In the final which descended into chaos, the Teranga Lions, overcame the Atlas Lions to emerge winner in a match.
The match was totally overshadowed by controversy and a violent outburst from a section of Senegal supporters at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Morocco’s capital.
The drama started when at the end of the second half when Senegal Idrissa Gueye’s late goal was disallowed.
It was disallowed by DR Congo referee Jean-Jacques Ngambo on the ground that Gueye fouled Achraf Hakimi in the build-up.
This made Senegal furious as the whistle had already blown before the ball crossed the line, thereby preventing a VAR review.
The protest increased when at the end of stoppage time in the second half Morocco were awarded a penalty after a VAR check adjudged El Hadji Diouf to have fouled Brahim Diaz.
Both benches broke out into a fight on the sidelines but Senegal manager, Pape Thiaw saved the situation by calling his team off the field and into the locker room out of protest.
After the exit of Senegal, another fight broke out in the Senegal supporters’ section where many supporters were seen fighting with stadium security, throwing chairs and more behind the goal.
Much later, Senegal came back out from the locker room to continue the game where Diaz went to attempt his penalty kick which he was earlier awarded but he missed it. That sent the game into extra time.
In the fourth minute of the first period of extra time, Pape Gueye received a pass from Idrissa Gueye which he converted into a goal through a left-footed shot into the top right corner of the net thereby sealing the victory for Senegal.
Senegal’s victory marked their sixth in AFCON and second time in the last three outings. Beating Egypt in 2021, Senegal fell to Algeria in the championship match in 2019.
