On Sunday, Senegal’s national football team was the victor in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco, 1-0, a match that featured disturbances, protests, a penalty that was not converted, and extra-time heroics.
The victory for the Teranga Lions came from a powerful shot by Pape Gueye in the 94th minute, finally just four minutes into extra time. The midfielder’s left-footed shot from outside the box turned out to be the one, as it marked Senegal’s first-ever goal in an AFCON final.
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Things became controversial in the second half of stoppage time. Senegal had a goal ruled out when Ismaila Sarr’s shot was judged to have been a foul against Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi. Almost at the same time, VAR awarded Morocco a penalty for the foul on Brahim Díaz, and the whole Senegal team walked off the field in protest.
The match, which was already delayed by 15-20 minutes, resumed with Díaz going for a cheeky Panenka penalty that the expert goalie Édouard Mendy saved with ease, thus sending the final into extra time.
From that moment onward, the game changed completely in Senegal’s favor due to the penalty miss. Gueye’s strike on Moroccan soil completed a wonderful turnaround for the visitors who had suffered through 90 minutes of goalless frustration.
This victory is in addition to Senegal’s 2022 AFCON title when Egypt was defeated on penalties. For Morocco, this defeat marks a tragic end to their home tournament, as the Lions could not capitalize on the powerful support they received.
