Chaos, Courage, and Glory: Senegal’s Stormy Night in Rabat
Pape Gueye’s Extra‑Time Thunderbolt Delivers AFCON Title Amid Walk‑Off Protest, Missed Panenka, and Torrential Rain
Senegal have been crowned champions of Africa once again, defeating hosts Morocco 1–0 in Rabat in a final that will be remembered as one of the most chaotic, emotional, and dramatic nights in AFCON history.
⚽ The Match That Had Everything
The contest swung wildly from controversy to brilliance:
Disallowed Goal: Senegal thought they had sealed victory late on when Ismaila Sarr scored, only for VAR to rule it out for a foul in the build‑up.
Penalty Chaos: In stoppage time, Morocco’s Brahim Diaz went down under pressure from El Hadji Malick Diouf. Referee Jean‑Jacques Ndala, after a lengthy VAR review, awarded a penalty.
Walk‑Off Protest: Furious, Senegal coach Pape Thiaw ordered his players off the pitch. Sadio Mané tried to calm teammates but eventually sprinted down the tunnel himself.
Delayed Kick: Seventeen minutes later, Senegal returned. Diaz attempted a Panenka penalty in the 113th minute, but goalkeeper Edouard Mendy read it perfectly, catching the ball with ease.
Decisive Strike: Within five minutes of extra time, Pape Gueye unleashed a thunderous shot that sealed Senegal’s victory.
😢 Diaz’s Heartbreak
Diaz was visibly shaken after his missed penalty, surrounded by teammates and appearing close to tears. His manager Walid Regragui, who had earlier tried to calm Thiaw, showed little sympathy and substituted Diaz at the start of extra time.
Diaz missed penalty
🔥 Chaos Beyond the Pitch
The drama extended far beyond the football itself:
Fan Invasion: Senegalese supporters stormed the pitch, breaking through advertising boards before riot police intervened.
Yellow Cards Galore: Ndala booked several Senegalese players amid the melee, including Sarr, Diouf, and even Mendy after he re‑emerged from the dressing room.
Torrential Rain & Missiles: As extra time drew to a close, players battled heavy rain while home fans hurled objects toward Mendy’s goal.
Media Brawl: Thiaw’s post‑match press conference was cancelled after clashes erupted between Moroccan and Senegalese journalists.
🎙️ Post‑Match Reflection
In an interview with beIN Sports, Thiaw admitted regret over the walk‑off:
“We didn’t agree. I don’t want to go over all the incidents. I apologise for the football. After reflecting on it I made them come back you can react in the heat of the moment. We accept the errors of the referee. We shouldn’t have done it but it’s done and now we present our apologies to football.”
Regragui, however, condemned Senegal’s actions as “shameful” and “not classy.”
Senegal Afcon winner 2025
🏆 Legacy
This triumph cements Senegal’s status as one of Africa’s footballing giants, adding a second AFCON title to their 2021 triumph. For Morocco, the heartbreak of losing at home will linger, compounded by Diaz’s missed penalty and the chaos that overshadowed the final.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Your Views are needed.Thanks!