Senegal emerged victorious in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), clinching the title with a 1-0 win against host nation Morocco. The match was marked by controversy when head coach Pape Thiaw led his team off the field in protest of a last-minute penalty awarded to Morocco during regulation time.

In a thrilling showdown, Pape Gueye delivered a spectacular goal during extra time, sealing one of the tournament’s most memorable finals. The game was packed with drama, including a disallowed goal and Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missing a Panenka penalty after Senegal initially refused to continue play, which sparked violent clashes between fans and riot police in Rabat.

The penalty decision came after Real Madrid’s Diaz was brought down in the box, prompting a lengthy deliberation by referee Jean-Jacques Ndala and the VAR team before the penalty was awarded.

Amid the chaos, former Liverpool star Sadio Mane was seen urging his teammates to reconsider as they headed towards the tunnel, with some players hesitating over whether to exit the pitch.

Ultimately, Mane led the charge down the tunnel, sprinting towards the dressing room, showcasing his decision to stick by the team’s protest.

Pape Thiaw called his players off the pitch in an extraordinary protest in the AFCON final 

Senegal were incensed after Morocco were awarded a contentious penalty in the dying minutes of normal time

Morocco’s coach, Walid Regragui, criticized Senegal’s actions, labeling them as “shameful” and lacking in sportsmanship.

Thiaw’s post-match press conference had to be cancelled after fights broke out between Moroccan and Senegalese journalists.

In an interview with beIN Sports, he said: ‘We didn’t agree. ‘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.’

Senegal had earlier had what they believed to be a late winner from Ismaila Sarr chalked off for a foul in the build-up, further adding to the feeling of bad luck amongst the side when Diaz was downed by El Hadji Malick Diouf. 

During the melee, scores of Senegal fans even made their way onto the pitch, breaking through the advertising boards before they were rounded up by riot police. 

Senegal were later convinced back onto the pitch, with the penalty kick eventually taken by Diaz in the 113th minute – 17 minutes after he was fouled. 

Tempers boiled over as members of Thiaw’s squad clashed with the Morocco bench as they waited on the referee’s decision

Morocco are attempting to claim the title in front of home fans in Rabat on Sunday night

Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz went down with some theatricality after tussling with El Hadji Malick Diouf

Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala handed out a slew of yellow cards for Senegalese and Moroccan stars on the pitch

The 26-year-old stepped up to the spot but his dismal Panenka attempt flew straight into Edouard Mendy’s gloves. 

Ndala added a number of Senegalese players to the book in the midst of melee, with Sarr and Diouf both booked for their part in the fury that following the awarding of the penalty. 

As Mendy came out of the dressing room with his team-mates after taking part in Thiaw’s protest, he too was handed a yellow card for arguing with the referee. 

But it was Diaz who seemed most impacted by the extraordinary scenes, compelled to attempt a Panenka that had no hope of bypassing the former Chelsea goalkeeper. 

Diaz was quickly surrounded by his team-mates as Ndala blew up for the end of the 90 minutes, and appeared to be on the brink of tears after squandering his chance of winning the tournament for the hosts.

Diaz’s manager Regragui, who had gone to lengths to calm his opposite number Thiaw before he whisked his players down the tunnel, did not cut a sympathetic figure however, with his side now forced to endure extra time – and within the opening five minutes after the restart, Pape Gueye scored for Senegal. 

Regragui deemed his player’s race run, with Diaz substituted at the start of the 30 added minutes. 

As the second-half of extra time drew to a close, the players were forced to contend with torrential rain, and missiles thrown onto the pitch from the home fans in the direction of Mendy’s goal. 

At the other end of the ground, Senegalese fans spilled out of the stands in their own protest

Fans clashed with riot police as the match paused for a staggering 17 minutes before the start

Diaz eventually stepped up to the spot but his weak effort landed straight in the hands of Edouard Mendy

After scoring the winner within the first five minutes of added time, Senegal could lift their second AFCON trophy in the last three tournaments

Diaz was unhappy as he collected his Golden Boot trophy from FIFA president Gianni Infantino

Sadio Mane – potentially winning his last major trophy with the team – was named the player of the tournament

But Senegal clung on, with players collapsing in ecstasy on the sodden pitch after the most dramatic reversals of fortune. 

Morocco, meanwhile, will see their 50-year wait to get their hands on the trophy roll on.  

Pundits including Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel were left aghast by the protest – but also stressed that they believed the penalty decision was unjustified. 

‘I can understand their frustration,’ Obi Mikel said on E4. ‘But walking off the pitch is not what I want to see.’

Former Nigeria striker Efan Ekoku added: ‘You cannot do that. However aggrieved you feel… I have got some sympathy, but this is not a good look.

‘I think it was foolish and reckless by El Hadji Malick Diouf, but the decision has been made and the players have to abide by that. Whatever happens now is not a good look for African football.’

On the penalty, he wondered ‘what Brahim Diaz (was) doing’ and called him ‘too clever for his own good.’ 

‘To do that is absolutely ridiculous. He may never ever get another chance to score a winning goal in an AFCON final.’