Football TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations

The craziest final in history? Brahim Diaz's fluffed Panenka, Senegal protest walk-off, VAR drama and wonder goal winner as Sadio Mane's men win AFCON

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Senegal's players walked off the pitch during a chaotic climax to Africa Cup of Nations, which also saw a controversial disallowed goal and a bizarre penalty miss in stoppage time. Senegal eventually won an astonishing final thanks to a stunning goal from Pape Gueye. However, the clash will live long in the memory for one of the most chaotic finales the beautiful game has ever seen.

'Soccer is often cruel' - Morocco on 'heartbreaking' AFCON loss

Video credit: SNTV

The climax of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations between Morocco and Senegal will go down as one of the most chaotic finals the beautiful game has ever seen.

A bizarre end to normal time saw a goal controversially disallowed, and a questionable penalty awarded before most of the Senegal squad staged a stunning protest against the two game-changing decisions.

Senegal thought they were ahead in the first minute of stoppage time when Ismaila Sarr nodded the ball in from close range after Abdoulaye Seck slammed a header of his own against the crossbar.

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However, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo judged that Seck had fouled Achraf Hakimi in the build-up, despite the replay suggesting that there was minimal contact on the Paris Saint-Germain defender.

Things went from bad to worse for Senegal when Brahim Diaz hit the deck following a tussle with El Hadji Malick Diouf from a corner kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Ndala Ngambo initially looked like he would allow play to continue, but was later persuaded to consult his monitor by VAR assistant Pierre Atcho.

The match official was subsequently surrounded by members of both the Morocco and Senegal coaching staffs as well as their players, with pushes and shoves clearly visible throughout the process.

The Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah erupted when Ndala Ngambo pointed to the penalty spot, booking Diouf and Sarr on his way to the box.

The awarding of the penalty sparked intense protests from the Senegal players, but the madness was only just beginning.

In a shocking twist, manager Pape Thiaw appeared to call his players off the pitch in response to the controversial call.

"An unsavoury finish," E4 commentator Paul Walker said. "Pape Thiaw is taking his players off the pitch.

"This is extraordinary, I have never seen anything quite like this."

Mane says abandonment would have been 'shame and sad' for African football

Video credit: SNTV

"You can’t do that, you can’t do that," co-commentator Efan Ekoku responded. "However aggrieved you feel about the situation, you have to let the referee implement the rules."

The Moroccan players were left waiting in the penalty area to take the spot kick for more than 15 minutes, but there was no sign of their opponents until Senegal icon Sadio Mane went back to the dressing room.

Within minutes of his departure from the field, the former Liverpool star’s teammates returned, and the penalty was taken.

But Moroccan cheers were put on hold as, following more delays, Golden Boot-winner Diaz fluffed his lines - literally.

The Real Madrid man, whose zealous appeals for a penalty kick-started the chaos, attempted an audacious Panenka penalty that landed safely in the hands of former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, and the referee immediately blew for full-time.

Brahim Diaz panenka
Image credit: Getty Images

The crucial moment, however, came in the fourth minute of extra time, when Pape Gueye fired a stunner in off the bar to give Senegal the lead.

The evening went from bad to worse for Diaz when he was substituted in the 98th minute, with Senegal holding on to win 1-0 and deny Morocco their first AFCON triumph since 1976.

One of the heroes of the night was former Liverpool star Mane, who was instrumental in ensuring the match resumed when it did.

He was named Player of the Tournament for his efforts on the pitch, and capped an amazing evening by lifting his nation's second AFCON crown.

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