Senegal players walk out after Morocco is awarded penalty in tense AFCON final

Senegal players walk-out of the field./SCREENGRAB

Senegal players walk out of the field./SCREENGRAB

A dramatic twist unfolded in the dying minutes of the AFCON final on Sunday after Senegal’s players headed straight to the dressing room following the award of a penalty to Morocco, signalling their refusal to continue the match.

The Lions of Teranga temporarily refused to finish the Africa Cup of Nations final with the game level at 0-0.

Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw tried to usher his team off the field in the 98th-minute when the hosts were awarded a spot-kick when defender El Hadji Malick Diouf brought down Brahim Diaz.

Thiaw, 44, was irritated with referee Jean Jacques Ndala - who awarded the penalty after reviewing the incident on the VAR monitor - for ruling out a goal for his side moments earlier.

Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr had bundled home from close-range, but his effort was chalked off after a foul from Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi.

The huge decision made Senegal players livid, as Morocco seemed to have the chance to win the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) with seconds remaining after the referee pointed to the penalty spot after a tense VAR review, saying Diouf (Senegal) dragged down Brahim Diaz (Morocco) in the penalty area. 

Players surrounded the officials in visible disagreement before collectively walking off the pitch, bringing the game to a sudden halt.

Morocco’s players remained on the field as they were trying to convince the Senegal players to return onto the pitch, even as the officials attempted to calm the situation, while stadium officials and match organisers moved in to assess whether play could resume.

Senegal veteran player Sadio Mane stayed on the pitch as he urged his teammates to return to the stadium.  Mane runs down the tunnel. And a few seconds later, the Senegal players walk out to boos in Morocco.

When the Lion of Teranga players resumed play, more drama unfolded as Morocco's star man in the tournament, Brahim Diaz, failed to score the penalty after his panenka was saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, sending the game into extra time.

Efan Ekoku, a former Nigerian striker, reacted to the drama, saying, "I think it was soft (the penalty decision). I think it was foolish and reckless by El Hadji Malick Diouf, but the decision has been made, and the players have to abide by that. Whatever happens now is not a good look for African football."

On the players and officials surrounding the referee during the VAR review, former Nigerian forward Daniel Amokachi said, "This is not what you want to see after such a wonderful tournament. It is easy to stop one or two people from causing chaos—now it is 50, 100 people."

The penalty decision, made at a critical stage of the final, appeared to be the breaking point in a tense contest that had already been marked by heightened emotions.

From the sidelines, Senegal’s technical bench also voiced strong objections, with officials seen gesturing toward the referee as they followed their players down the tunnel.

The crowd reacted with a mixture of shock and noise as uncertainty spread across the stadium.

The incident threatens to overshadow what had been billed as a showpiece final between two of Africa’s football heavyweights.

Further communication from the match commissioner and governing body is expected on the move by some of the Senegal players.