Senegal beat Morocco to win the Africa Cup of Nations for a second time – but only after the final was overshadowed when they temporarily refused to play after the hosts were awarded a controversial stoppage-time penalty with the match goalless.
Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye scored the only goal in the fourth minute of extra time to seal a second triumph in five years for the Lions.
But the game was marred by late controversy as Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw tried to usher his team off the field when Morocco were awarded a spot-kick in the 98th minute as a result of defender El Hadji Malick Diouf bringing down Brahim Diaz.
Though when the penalty was eventually taken in the 114th minute, Real Madrid forward Diaz saw his Panenka attempt saved by Edouard Mendy.
In his post-match press conference, Morocco coach Walid Regragui said Senegal’s actions were “shameful” and do not “honour Africa”.
Thiaw, meanwhile, saw his media briefing cancelled after a ruckus broke out in the press room.
But in an interview with BeIN Sport, he accepted that he should not have ordered his team off the field.
“We didn’t agree,” he said. “I don’t want to go over all the incidents. I apologise for the football.
“After reflecting on it I made them come back [on the pitch] – you can react in the heat of the moment. We accept the errors of the referee.
“We shouldn’t have done it but it’s done and now we present our apologies to football.”
Thiaw, 44, was furious with referee Jean Jacques Ndala – who awarded the penalty after reviewing the incident on the VAR monitor – for ruling out a goal for his side moments earlier.
Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr had bundled home from close range, but his effort was chalked off for a foul by Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi.
As several of the Senegal players followed Thiaw’s request to leave the field, a section of their supporters threw objects and attempted to get on the field.
Senegal only returned from the dressing room at the request of former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane.
Gueye then scored the only goal of the game with a stunning individual effort in the 94th minute.
Diaz, substituted in the extra time, was left crestfallen as Morocco missed the chance to win a first Afcon title since 1976.
After the game, Mendy insisted he was “proud” of the way Senegal – instructed by Mane – returned to the field to win their second Afcon title this decade.
“What did we say to each other? That’s between us,” said Mendy.
“We did it together and we came back together, that’s all that matters. We can be proud tonight.”
Match-winner Gueye added: “We had a feeling of injustice. Just before the penalty we thought we should have had a goal and the referee didn’t go to VAR.
“Sadio [Mane] told us to come back on and we remobilised. Edouard [Mendy] then made the save, we stayed focused, got the goal and won the game.”
