Senegal Wins Cup in Controversial Final Defeating Morocco

The decisive match of the Africa Cup of Nations was held last night. Sport24.az reports that the Senegalese national team faced the hosts Morocco in the final match of the tournament.

The Senegalese national team won the match held at the Moulay Abdullah Sports Complex – 1:0.

The fate of the game was decided in extra time. Pap Gueye scored the winning goal for the Senegalese national team in the 94th minute.

The final game was not without controversy. The head coach of the Senegalese national team, Pap Thiaw, protested against the penalty awarded to their goal in the 90+8th minute of the match and took the team off the field. Before that, a goal scored by the Senegalese in the 90+2nd minute of the match was also not recorded. The referee cited a foul against Ashraf Hakimi and assessed Abdoulaye Seck's action as a foul. The referee's whistle without waiting for the end of the attack eliminated the possibility of VAR intervention and the episode was not checked. This decision caused great dissatisfaction. When a penalty was awarded to Senegal's goal, the players left the field at the direction of the head coach.

At this time, Senegal's leader Sadio Mane intervened in what happened and ensured that the game continued. He went to the locker room and was able to bring his teammates back to the field.

Brahim Dias, a member of the Moroccan national team, failed to accurately execute the penalty in the 90+24th minute. Senegal's goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy, saved the shot, preventing the score from changing.

It should be noted that this is the second victory of the Senegalese national team in the Africa Cup of Nations. The team also lifted the cup in 2021. Morocco won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1976.

In the match for the bronze medal yesterday, Nigeria defeated Egypt in a penalty shootout (4:2).