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Drama unfolded in the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday as Senegal survived chaos to win the title. With Senegalese players walking off the pitch, fans clashed with security. However, a missed Panenka penalty changed everything.The final was played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Senegal and Morocco were locked at 0-0 deep into injury time. Morocco were then awarded a penalty after a VAR review. The decision was for a challenge on Brahim Diaz.
Senegal were already angry. Minutes earlier, they had a goal ruled out for a soft foul. The referee did not check VAR for that moment. When the penalty was given, Senegal players reacted in fury. Some of them walked off the pitch in protest.The situation grew worse in the stands. Senegal fans tried to enter the field. They clashed with security staff. The match was stopped for almost 20 minutes.Eventually, play resumed. Diaz stepped up to take the penalty. He tried a weak Panenka. Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saved it.Watch:In extra time, Senegal stayed calm. In the fourth minute, Pape Gueye scored a brilliant goal. It was the only goal of the match. Senegal won 1-0 and lifted the trophy.“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,” said Villarreal midfielder Gueye. “Sadio told us to come back on and we remobilised. Edouard then made the save, we stayed focused, got the goal and won the game.”Senegal coach Pape Thiaw admitted fault. “After thinking about it, I realised that I shouldn’t have asked them to go off. I apologise for that,” Thiaw told French broadcaster beIN Sports.“Sometimes you can react in the heat of the moment. Before that we scored a goal that was not given. But now we accept that referees do make mistakes and we apologise.”This was Senegal’s second AFCON title. Their first came four years ago in Cameroon. That final was decided on penalties against Egypt.Gueye’s goal was historic. It was Senegal’s first ever goal in four AFCON finals.“We are very happy with the victory tonight,” said Gueye. “We feel pride. We wanted to win tonight. We all saw what happened at the end of the match but we took the decision to come back onto the pitch and give everything, which we did.”
