The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was at its most perplexing as Senegal claimed a dramatic 1-0 extra-time victory over hosts Morocco in the final, marking the Lions of Teranga’s second success in the last three tournaments.
This clash between Africa’s two highest-ranked sides was fittingly met with an electric atmosphere in Rabat, with the home crowd in full voice to greet the Atlas Lions.
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Given the two sides’ defensive records at this tournament, the play was surprisingly open early on, and Yassine Bounou stopped Pape Gueye from heading in before Ismael Saibari sliced wide at the other end.
The action continued until just before the break, when Iliman Ndiaye raced through to have the game’s best chance so far, but his low shot towards the far post was thwarted by Bounou’s outstretched leg.
Senegal had certainly been the more promising side in the first half, but the hosts had their time to shine as play got back underway.
Ayoub El Kaabi missed a pair of chances, including hitting a whisker wide after Bilal El Khannouss’ ball, before their momentum was broken up by a lengthy stoppage for an injury to Neil El Aynaoui.
Pape Thiaw made attacking changes in an attempt to win it for his side in normal time, and the Senegal boss was left incensed when referee Jean-Jacques Ndala controversially blew the whistle ahead of Idrissa Gueye heading into the net, automatically disallowing the goal.
But that was nothing compared to the anger in the Senegal camp when a VAR review gave a penalty for El Hadji Malick Diouf pulling down Brahim Diaz in the area deep into stoppage time.
A 15-minute break followed as Senegal fervently protested the decision, before Diaz stepped up to extraordinarily chip straight at Edouard Mendy and send it to extra time.
Morocco's Brahim Diaz misses his penalty PAUL ELLIS / AFP
The extension brought another astonishing twist just a few minutes in, as a fast Senegal counter was picked up by P. Gueye, who shrugged off Achraf Hakimi and sent a sensational left-footed strike thundering into the top corner.
From jubilation to devastation, Morocco put everything into trying to get back on level. Nayef Aguerd went closest as he agonisingly headed against the bar, while Bounou somehow got a fingertip to the ball to prevent substitute Cherif Ndiaye from finding an open net and putting the result beyond doubt.
Senegal's Pape Gueye celebrates their victory in the final FRANCK FIFE / AFP
That miss ultimately didn’t matter, and Senegal became the first side since 1982 to beat a hosting side in an AFCON final, as their golden era continues by adding this title to their 2021 triumph.
On the other side of the result is Morocco, who delighted their fans throughout the competition but couldn’t get over the line in this captivating final to win AFCON for the first time in 50 years.
