Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 after extra time in a controversial Africa Cup of Nations final. Senegal walked off the pitch after Morocco were awarded a penalty in stoppage time; They returned, and Brahim Diaz’s Panenka penalty was saved before Papa Gueye’s stunner secured victory. (Photo: Papa Gueye scored the winner).

Gueye’s thunderbolt in the fourth minute of extra time settled a final that was filled with controversy. It came after dramatic scenes in stoppage time of normal time when Senegal coach Pape Thiaw, who was also angered by a disallowed goal for his side, took his Senegal players off the field following the decision to award the Atlas Lions a controversial last-gasp penalty. (Photos: Penalty and the miss).

The clock was ticking into the last minute of the scheduled eight minutes of added time when El Hadji Malick Diouf was adjudged to have dragged Brahim Diaz over in the penalty area. Chaos ensued at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat after referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded the penalty after a VAR check at the pitch-side monitor.

And with no one particularly knowing how the game was going to end, as Senegal temporarily refused to finish the game. With the clock still running, after some encouragement from Sadio Mane, the Senegal players re-emerged in the 20th minute of stoppage time, but, incredibly, Diaz’s weakly attempted Panenka penalty was saved by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. It sent the final into extra time, where Gueye won the trophy for Senegal.

Courtesy: SkySports.com