THE FINAL of the Africa Cup of Nations descended into chaos as Senegal fans threatened to storm onto the pitch and were seen throwing CHAIRS at police.
One of the most dramatic finals in tournament history was played out between Senegal and Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Morocco.
A tense final entered the closing stages with the score at 0-0 before the referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded a controversial penalty to Morocco in the eighth minute of injury time.
Fuming Senegal boss Pape Thiaw had ordered his team off the pitch in a remarkable protest against a penalty after West Ham‘s Malick Diouf foul on Brahim Diaz at a corner.
All players except for ex-Liverpool star Sadio Mane joined the coaching staff in the stunning walk off – sparking a remarkable 17-minute delay in the match – which was condemned as “unacceptable” by Fifa President Gianni Infantino.
Thiaw, 44, made the initial gesture to walk off in the 100th minute before players, including former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, walked off in the 106th minute.
The fury was echoed by the Senegal supporters, who were also moved to action by the penalty decision.
Numerous videos were captured from inside the ground and shared to social media showing as tempers flared among Senegal fans.
Fans were seen climbing down from the stands and clashing with both stewards and photographers by the pitch as they attempted to invade the pitch to stop the penalty being taken.
Police rushed in to try and manage the situation as chairs were thrown from the stands.
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When the situation eventually calmed down, Mane, 33, convinced his team-mates to return to the pitch with the match in the 110th minute.
Real Madrid star Diaz was then able to take the penalty in the 114th minute with the chance to win Afcon for his nation for the first time since 1976.
However, the 26-year-old fluffed his lines by attempting a panenka penalty which was easily caught by Mendy.
Senegal then went down the other end of the pitch in extra time with Papa Gueye charging down the field, holding off a challenge from Achraf Hakimi before blasting a dramatic winner into the top corner of the net four minutes into extra time.
Diaz was then substituted off the pitch after appearing to be on the verge of tears.
And he was inconsolable after the match as he was presented with the Golden Boot award.
It was the second time Senegal have won Afcon, having previously done so in 2021.
But Morocco boss Walid Regragui said of the scenes following the match: “The image we gave of African football was rather shameful.
“Having to stop the game for more than 10 minutes with the world watching is not very classy.”
Thiaw also apologised for Senegal’s conduct after the match.
On the fiasco, Infantino added: “We strongly condemn the behaviour of some ‘supporters’ as well as some Senegalese players and technical staff members.
“It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner.”
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