Senegal 1 – 0 Morocco

Senegal won the African Cup of Nations for the second time after a dramatic and controversial 1-0 victory over hosts Morocco thanks to Pape Gueye’s wonder goal in extra time.

Gueye’s thunderbolt in the fourth minute of extra time ended the controversial final.

It came after dramatic scenes in stoppage time when Senegal’s controversial decision to award Atlas Lions a last-gasp penalty led to Senegalese coach Pape Tiao also being furious at the disallowance of his team’s goal and sending Senegalese players off the field.

Substitute Ismaila Sarr thought Senegal had won until referee Jean-Jacques Ndala ruled out a foul on Abdoulaye Sek’s header on Achraf Hakimi, but the drama was not scheduled. The match lasted until the final moments of eight minutes of stoppage time, when the referee, who had been advised to review Malick Diouf’s challenge on Dias, pointed to the spot, prompting an infuriated coach Thiau to send most of his players to the dressing room.

No one in particular knew how the match would end as chaos continued at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, with Senegal briefly refusing to let it end.

With the clock still ticking, the Senegalese players re-emerged in the 20th minute of stoppage time after a pep talk from Sadio Mane, but incredibly Dias, who was the competition’s top scorer with five goals, had Panenka’s weak attempt saved from a penalty by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy as Morocco denied Morocco’s chances of winning their first continental title in 50 years.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more dramatic comeback in a major cup final. Morocco was just one step away from becoming champions. Brahim Diaz. Extraordinary.

Lewis Jones on Sky Sports

The final went into overtime, and Thiau’s team, feeling unfair, regrouped and took the lead, when Gueye jumped forward and drove a left-footed piledriver past Benou and into the top corner.

Bounou then made a superb double save to deny Cherif Ndiayi his second goal, but Gueye’s contribution proved decisive for Senegal in the end.

Kalidou Koulibaly, who was suspended for the final but celebrated with his team in full kit, received the African Cup of Nations trophy from FIFA president Gianni Infantino and handed it to Mane, who duly held it aloft in what could be Senegal’s final AFCON appearance.

See in photos: AFCON final descends into chaos…

Peacemaker’s Mane – “It shows that he is a great man.”

It was notable that Sadio Mane did not step out when his teammates returned to the dressing room.

He was the one who tried to get the Senegalese players back on the pitch to finish the game.

The former Liverpool forward also rushed in full-time to calm Senegalese fans as trouble threatened to escalate at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

“He went back to the dressing room and brought the players back,” former Moroccan international Hassan Kashourou told E4.

“That shows what a great person he is.

“African football and world football were losing. Sadio Mane was the man who got them back on their feet.”

Diaz’s “nightmare” moment

It was joy for Senegal, but despair for Morocco, especially Brahim Diaz.

One of the stars of the tournament, he was the top scorer with five goals, and his AFCON will be remembered for Panenka’s penalty miss.

Diaz, described on social media as the worst penalty candidate in football history, was visibly shocked and had tears in his eyes as he finished the game on the bench.

He’ll be replaying this moment over and over again in the coming weeks.

“If you do that, it will destroy everything that Brahim Dias has done well in this tournament,” former Nigeria captain John Obi Mike said on E4.

“He’s going to be devastated. This is going to be a tough few weeks and months for him.”

Kachor added: “I think Brahim Diaz will have many nightmares in the coming days, but that’s part of football life.

“Diaz must have changed his mind several times before kicking that ball. Unfortunately for Morocco, they paid the price.”