THE Africa Cup of Nations final descended into chaos when the Senegal manager ordered his players off the pitch and back to the dressing room.
Pape Thiaw was furious when the referee awarded a controversial penalty to hosts Morocco in the eighth of eight minutes of injury time for a soft tug at a corner at 0-0.
Senegal’s players walked off the field in the Afcon finalCredit: Channel 4
Pape Thiaw ordered his team offCredit: AFP
Senegal were furious at a late controversial penaltyCredit: Channel 4
The Senegal players walked down the tunnel back to the dressing roomCredit: Channel 4
It came just moments after Morocco escaped conceding a late winner at the other end when the referee inexplicably blew his whistle for a free-kick.
Then in the Senegal penalty area, a tussle saw Brahim Diaz go down claiming he had been fouled and prompted referee Jean-Jacques Ndala to go to the VAR pitchside screen – and he pointed to the spot.
That sparked delirium among the home fans inside the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium – and sheer fury for Senegal’s players, staff and fans.
Ndala brandished a flurry of yellow cards to men in green while the two managers angrily argued with one another.
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And in shocking scenes, Thiaw called his Senegal players – including Sadio Mane and Edouard Mendy – off the field of play to the bench in protest at the controversial decision.
Morocco’s players watched on baffled as most of their opponents, not including Mane, then walked down the tunnel to the changing room.
Thiaw was determined his stars – who felt crestfallen amid the very questionable refereeing in Morocco – would not play on.
The Morocco team, led by Achraf Hakimi, stayed on the pitch in utter dramatic never-seen-before chaos while some furious Senegal fans stormed on to the pitch.
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After more than ten minutes, though, the Senegal players returned to the field.
And at long, long last, Diaz prepared to take the spot kick.
But in the 114th minute – the 24TH MINUTE of injury time – the Real Madrid playmaker opted to chip his pathetic ‘Panenka’ penalty attempt down the middle, giving ex-Chelsea stopper Mendy the easiest save of his career.
The full-time whistle blew straight afterwards to take the game to extra time and Morocco manager Walid Regragui furiously remonstrated with gutted Diaz for his awful penalty – as team-mates consoled their pal.
The commentators even questioned whether he missed the penalty on purpose.
Then, following the goalless 90 minutes, Senegal spectacularly took the lead in style four minutes into extra time.
Pape Gueye let fly on the edge of the area and thumped a sweet strike in off the crossbar as Morocco fell behind for the first time in the tournament – minutes after having a kick to win their first Afcon for 50 years.
Then Regragui subbed ex-Manchester City man and one-cap Spain international Diaz off seven minutes into extra time and he looked to be on the brink of tears on the bench.
And his blunder proved critical as Senegal held on for the most remarkable 1-0 victory to be crowned African champions in what is expected to be Mane’s final Afcon match.
Inconsolable Diaz was presented with the Golden Boot from the tournament by Fifa president Gianni Infantino in the pouring rain for his five goals – one more than Mo Salah and Victor Osimhen – before jubilant Senegal got their hands on the trophy.
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Earlier on, Senegal star Krepin Diatta was injured in the pre-match warm-up and was carried to the changing room in emotional scenes.
Then the match was halted midway through the second half when Morocco ace Neil El Aynaoui’s face was covered in blood after a gruesome clash of heads.
Furious Senegal fans protested in the standsCredit: Reuters
Some supporters had to be carried away by security after invading the pitchCredit: AP
The two sets of players clashed in the chaotic scenesCredit: AFP
Edouard Mendy was booked in the furyCredit: Reuters
Brahim Diaz decided to chip his penaltyCredit: AFP
The players returned after ten minutesCredit: Channel 4
Mendy stood his ground and made the easy saveCredit: Channel 4
Diaz was consoled by team-mates after his major blunderCredit: Channel 4
Senegal staged the dramatic protestCredit: Channel 4
Sadio Mane did not go back to the changing roomCredit: Channel 4
The Senegal defender barely touched Diaz as he fell to the floorCredit: Channel 4
The referee was sent to the screen and pointed to the spotCredit: Channel 4
Pape Gueye scored a belting strike which clipped the bar on its way inCredit: AP
Diaz received the Golden Boot from Fifa president Gianni InfantinoCredit: Reuters
Sadio Mane lifted the Afcon trophy with his delighted Senegal team-matesCredit: AP
