A disallowed Senegal goal in the 93rd minute. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) controversially awarding a penalty to Morocco. Senegal players staging a walk-out, causing a 14-minute delay. Brahim Diaz’s embarrassingly fluffing the panenka. And Pape Gueye scoring a screamer in extra time to lead Senegal to the African Cup of Nations title. The Afcon final on Sunday night between hosts Morocco and Senegal descended into a farce. Senegal won 1-0 but the title was overshadowed by the drama that unfolded in the stoppage time at the end of the match. After the VAR awarded a penalty against them, the Senegalese players were ordered off the field by their coach Pape Bouna Thiaw, with some players going back to the dressing room. It was only after Sadio Mane convinced them to get back on the field that the game continued – after a 14 minute holdover. The penalty was awarded following a VAR check by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala after Brahim Diaz had been tugged to the ground by Senegal full back El Hadji Malick Diouf while defending a corner five minutes into stoppage time. This wasn’t the first time refereeing was questioned during the tournament, with many teams alleging poor calls by the officials, but staging a walkout was unforeseen. Senegal’s Sadio Mane holds the trophy aloft as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Africa Cup of Nations final. (AP Photo/Youssef Loulidi) The long delay between the awarding of the penalty, after a lengthy VAR review and Senegal’s protest, and the taking of the kick was followed by a lame effort from Morocco’s star player Diaz, who has been central to the team’s fine run to the final. However, his chilled effort was easily saved by Senegal goalkeeper Eduard Mendy. Morocco coach Walid Regragui said the delay did not help 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, four minutes into extra time, Gueye scored a wonderful goal that led Senegal to another African title. Regragui, however, said Senegal’s protests would damage the image of African football. “The image we’ve given of Africa is shameful,” said Regragui. “A coach who asks his players to leave the field … What Pape did does not honour Africa. He wasn’t classy. But he is a champion, so he can say whatever he wants.” Thiaw, the Senegal coach, was jeered by the Moroccan journalists in the post-match press conference, which was called off. He could face sanctions for his actions, according to Reuters.
African Cup final farce: Senegal walk-out after penalty but return to beat Morocco and win title
