Afcon final: Senegal temporarily leave field after Morocco awarded controversial penalty

Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations for the second time by beating Morocco; but it was only after the final was overshadowed that they temporarily refused to play, with the home team being awarded a controversial extra time penalty due to the match being goalless.

Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw tried to lead his team off the field in the 98th minute when the home team were awarded a spot-kick after defender El Hadji Malick Diouf brought down Brahim Diaz.

The Real Madrid striker stepped forward to take the penalty as the players returned to the field, but Panenka’s penalty attempt was saved.

Thiaw, 44, was disturbed by the fact that referee Jean Jacques Ndala, who awarded the penalty after reviewing the incident on the VAR monitor, had just canceled his team’s goal.

Crystal Palace striker Ismaila Sarr took the ball from close range but his effort was wasted after Abdoulaye Seck fouled Achraf Hakimi.

Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy went to the dressing room, but Sadio Mane returned to the field and tried to encourage his players to finish the game.

Immediately afterwards, Ndala blew the final whistle of the match and Senegal opened the scoring with Pape Gueye four minutes into extra time.