Senegal win AFCON after football’s most dramatic final: Morocco star misses late penalty that sparked walk-off protest from Sadio Mane and Co, as riot police are forced to contain angry fans in ugly scenes

Senegal won the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) by defeating hosts Morocco 1-0 after a dramatic final in which head coach Pape Thiaw led his players off the field in protest against a late penalty awarded to Morocco in the final minutes of normal time.

While Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz started to fight for the ball in the penalty area, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala and VAR took their time in deciding to award the penalty kick.

Morocco was awarded a penalty after Ndala consulted the monitor, but the decision on whether the penalty was deserved turned into a debate between players and coaches, and Thiaw subsequently canceled his squad.

Former Liverpool icon Sadio Mane called out to his team-mates as they made their way through the tunnel, some of whom were unsure whether to leave.

Mane eventually left the tunnel and was seen running towards the dressing room.

Moments earlier, Senegal had chalked off what they believed to be a late winner from Ismaila Sarr, further adding to the feeling of bad luck in the team when Diaz was beaten by El Hadji Malick Diouf.

Senegal was angered by Morocco’s controversial penalty in the final minutes of normal time.

During the melee, many Senegalese fans entered the field and broke advertising hoardings before being caught by riot police.

Senegal were then coaxed back onto the field and Diaz scored the penalty kick in the 113th minute, 17 minutes after he was fouled.

The 26-year-old came onto the pitch but missed with a weak effort that hit Edouard Mendy’s gloves directly.

Ndala booked several Senegalese players in the middle of the brawl; Sarr and Diouf played their part in the anger following the penalty decision.

While Mendy was leaving the locker room with his teammates after joining Thiaw’s protest, he also received a yellow card for arguing with the referee.

But it was Diaz who was most affected by the extraordinary scenes, who was forced to attempt a Paneka effort that had no hope of getting past the former Chelsea goalkeeper.

Diaz was quickly surrounded by his team-mates as Ndala flew into the air after 90 minutes and Ndala looked on the verge of tears as he squandered the chance to secure victory.

Tempers boiled over as players in Thiaw’s squad clashed with the Moroccan bench as they awaited the referee’s decision.

Morocco looks to clinch the title in front of their fans in Rabat on Sunday night

Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz fell to the ground in a theatrical manner after a fight with El Hadji Malick Diouf

Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala distributed many yellow cards to the Senegalese and Moroccan stars on the field.

Diaz’s manager, Walid Regragui, did his best to calm his opponent, Thiaw, before leading his players into the tunnel, but he did not put up a sympathetic figure as his team now had to endure extra time – and Pape Gueye scored for Senegal within the opening five minutes after the restart.

Regragui evaluated the player’s race run and Diaz entered the game at the beginning of the added 30 minutes.

As the second half of extra time drew to a close, the players had to contend with torrential rain and home fans hurling missiles onto the pitch towards Mendy’s goal.

But Senegal moved on after the most dramatic reversal of fortunes, with players collapsing in euphoria on the soaked pitch.

Morocco, meanwhile, will see its 50-year wait to get its hands on the cup.

Pundits, including Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel, were stunned by the protest but also stressed they believed the penalty decision was unfair.

“I can understand their frustration,” Obi Mikel said on E4. ‘But leaving the field is not what I want to see.’

At the other end of the field, Senegalese fans poured out of the stands in their own protest.

Fans clashed with riot police due to a pause 17 minutes before the match started.

Diaz eventually came onto the field but his weak effort went straight into the hands of Edouard Mendy.

Former Nigerian striker Efan Ekoku added: ‘You can’t do that. No matter how sad you feel… I kind of sympathize, but it’s not a nice look.

‘I think what El Hadji Malick Diouf did was stupid and reckless, but the decision has been made and the players must abide by it. Whatever happens at the moment, it’s not a good look for African football.’

He wondered ‘what Brahim Diaz did’ at the penalty and described him as ‘too smart for his own good’.

‘It’s absolutely ridiculous to do this. “He may never get another chance to score the winning goal in the AFCON final,” he continued.