Senegal boss orders players off pitch after controversial penalty decision as AFCON final descends into chaos

A controversial penalty decision caused the Africa Cup of Nations final to descend into chaos.

Senegal manager Pape Thiaw ordered his players to leave the field after opponents Morocco were awarded a spot-kick during 24 minutes of stoppage time.

West Ham United defender El Hadji Malick Diouf had been penalised for pulling Brahim Diaz to the ground inside the penalty area.

The incident came shortly after Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr had a goal disallowed earlier in added time.

After leaving the field, the Senegal players could be seen huddling on the touchline before several members of the side headed down the tunnel.

The lengthy delay continued as the match clock ticked past the 100-minute mark despite only eight minutes being added.

Meanwhile, the disruption spilled over into the stands as Senegal fans were seen clashing with stewards.

Several supporters made their way to the side of the pitch as chairs were thrown in worrying scenes inside the stadium.

Senegal forward Sadio Mane urged his teammates to return to the field, though, even sprinting down the tunnel to do so.

Once they had emerged, the home crowd in Rabat booed the Senegal players back onto the pitch before the penalty could be taken.

Reacting to the chaotic scenes on E4’s live coverage, former Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel admitted: “For African football, this is a shameful end to this tournament… I don’t know who is the winner.”

He added: “I can understand their frustration but walking off the pitch is not what I want to see.”

Following a 15-minute stoppage in play, Diaz stepped up to take the penalty against Edouard Mendy, who was booked for his protests against the decision.

His attempts to put off the Morocco forward paid off as Diaz’s chipped effort was caught comfortably by Mendy.

The final whistle was blown immediately after the spot-kick, with extra time to follow in a bid to separate the sides.

Prior to the final, Diaz had been the tournament’s top scorer with five goals in six appearances.

Those strikes included a penalty against Mali during the group stage.

Diaz’s effort stunned former Nigeria star Efan Ekoku, who reacted by asking: “What is Brahim Diaz doing? What is he doing?

Channel 4

“I cannot believe he has done that. 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.”

But Senegal took the lead early on in extra time through a rocket by Pape Gueye.

It marked the first time Morocco have trailed in the entire tournament.

They would go close to an equaliser later in the additional period as Nayef Aguerd headed against the bar from a corner.

Senegal then went agonisingly close to a second after Yassine Bounou denied Cherif Ndiaye, who put his rebound wide with the goal gaping.

AFP

Despite the miss, they were able to hold on to be crowned African champions for the second time.

Meanwhile, the host nation missed out on the chance to win a second AFCON title and their first since 1976.