Senegal's Triumph Overshadowed by Controversy at Africa Cup of Nations Final

Mon Jan 19 2026 15:39:52 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Senegal clinches the Africa Cup of Nations title amid chaotic scenes during the final match against Morocco, raising questions about sportsmanship and officiating.

Senegal secured their second Africa Cup of Nations title after a tumultuous final against Morocco, where players temporarily exited the field over a controversial penalty. The chaos during the match has drawn criticism, with officials and players alike urging for accountability and reflection on the events that transpired.

Senegal beat Morocco to win the Africa Cup of Nations for a second time - but only after the final was overshadowed when they temporarily refused to play after the hosts were awarded a stoppage-time penalty with the match goalless.

Referee Jean Jacques Ndala awarded the spot-kick in the 98th minute after being advised by the video assistant referee (VAR) to consult the pitchside monitor and review defender El Hadji Malick Diouf's challenge on Brahim Diaz.

Amid sensational scenes, head coach Pape Thiaw, still incensed by Ndala's decision moments earlier to disallow a Senegal goal, ushered his team off the field. Former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane stayed on the pitch and tried to encourage his Senegal team-mates to finish the game.

Following a delay of around 17 minutes, the players did eventually return. Real Madrid forward Diaz, the tournament's top scorer with five goals, was trusted with the penalty, but his tame 'Panenka' effort was caught by Senegal keeper Edouard Mendy who barely had to move, and Ndala immediately blew his whistle for full-time.

Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye then scored the winning goal in the fourth minute of extra time to seal a second triumph in five years for the Lions.

In his post-match news conference, Morocco coach Walid Regragui called Senegal's actions shameful and stated they did not honour Africa. FIFA president Gianni Infantino strongly condemned the ugly scenes in a post on Instagram.

Following the match, Thiaw admitted he should not have ordered his team off the field. 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. We accept the errors of the referee, he said.

Infantino's statements emphasized that violence cannot be tolerated in football and urged that the responsible bodies take appropriate measures against inappropriate behaviors witnessed in the final.

Despite the controversy, Mane expressed pride in returning to the field and insisted that Senegal should present a good image for football. Former Nigeria forward Ekoku criticized the players' actions, stating it was not a good look for African football, while Mendy expressed pride in Senegal's resilience.

Interestingly, Senegal had previously raised concerns about their treatment prior to the final, indicating a lack of adequate security and preparation upon arrival in Morocco.

As the dust settles on this chaotic final, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of sportsmanship and the responsibilities of players and officials within the beautiful game.