Senegal shock Morocco in chaotic AFCON final marred by VAR drama

Senegal edged hosts Morocco 1–0 after extra time in a chaotic AFCON final overshadowed by VAR controversy, protests, and a missed stoppage-time penalty.

Senegal claimed their Africa Cup of Nations crown in Rabat on Sunday night, but the final will be remembered less for footballing excellence than for the extraordinary scenes that unfolded late in regulation time.

After a tense, scoreless 90 minutes, the match descended into confusion following a controversial VAR intervention that nearly ended in forfeiture.

With the clock deep into stoppage time, Morocco’s Brahim Díaz went to ground inside the box during a corner. Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo initially allowed play to continue, but VAR intervened to recommend a review for a shirt pull by El Hadji Malick Diouf. The decision to award a penalty infuriated Senegal’s bench, particularly head coach Pape Thiaw, who ordered his players off the pitch in protest.

The outrage was compounded moments earlier when Senegal had a potential winning goal ruled out. Ismaïla Sarr’s header was chalked off for a foul in the buildup by Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi, a decision that stood without VAR review because the whistle had already gone. To Senegal, the two calls appeared wildly inconsistent.

As Senegal’s players disappeared down the tunnel, Sadio Mané remained alone on the field, attempting to calm officials and opponents alike. After more than 15 minutes of stoppage and heated discussions around the VAR monitor, Mané persuaded his teammates to return, with the threat of forfeiture hanging heavily over the stadium.

When the penalty was finally taken, the drama intensified. Díaz attempted a Panenka, only for Edouard Mendy to read it perfectly and catch the ball cleanly, sending shockwaves through the Moroccan crowd and swinging momentum decisively in Senegal’s favour.

Extra time arrived with Senegal energised and Morocco deflated. Just four minutes in, Mané capitalised on a loose Moroccan touch, slipping the ball into the path of Pape Gueye.

The midfielder powered forward under pressure from Hakimi and smashed a fierce shot off the underside of the crossbar and in.

Morocco pushed desperately for an equaliser, with Youssef En-Nesyri dragging a late chance wide and Nayef Aguerd rattling the crossbar with a header, but Senegal held firm to seal a victory forged in chaos.

It was Senegal’s night in a final that joined a long list of AFCON deciders settled by the narrowest of margins.