AFCON final: Senegal storm off Pitch in rage over shocking late Penalty for Morocco

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between hosts Morocco and Senegal erupted into unprecedented chaos on Sunday evening at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, as Senegal’s players dramatically walked off the pitch in protest over a highly controversial late penalty awarded to Morocco.

The match, which had remained goalless through 90 minutes of tense, tightly contested football, descended into farce in the dying embers of stoppage time.

Moments earlier, Senegal believed they had snatched a dramatic winner when Ismaila Sarr found the net, only for the goal to be disallowed following a VAR review for a perceived foul in the build-up, a decision that left the Lions of Teranga seething.

Then, in the eighth minute of added time, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala pointed to the spot after a VAR check deemed that Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf had fouled Morocco’s Brahim Diaz in the penalty area.

The call, widely described across reports as “soft” and contentious, especially given the home advantage for Morocco, proved the breaking point.

Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw, visibly furious, signaled for his players to leave the field. The squad, including stars like goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, complied en masse, heading toward the tunnel amid chaotic scenes.

Captain Sadio Mane initially stayed on the pitch in an apparent bid to calm the situation and urge his teammates back, but even he eventually departed as tensions boiled over.

Some Senegal fans breached barriers, clashing with security in the stands, while touchline arguments involved players and staff from both sides.

The walkout halted play for approximately 15-20 minutes as officials, including CAF representatives, negotiated with the Senegalese camp.

Eventually, the players returned, and Diaz stepped up to take the penalty, described by observers as a tame Panenka attempt, only for Mendy to calmly catch the ball straight down the middle. The miss preserved the 0-0 deadlock at the end of normal time, sending the final into extra time.

In extra time, Senegal seized the initiative, with Pape Gueye smashing home a superb strike early on to give his side a 1-0 lead, turning the momentum in their favor after the earlier drama.

The incident has sparked widespread debate about refereeing standards in the tournament, with Senegal’s frustrations compounded by pre-final complaints from their federation about security, accommodation, and ticketing issues in the host nation.