Sadio Mane and Senegal were left fuming when Morocco was awarded a controversial penalty deep into stoppage time in the final at AFCON.
The referee pointed to the spot for a supposed pull back, but Senegal was left angered by the decision. Its head coach, Pape Thiaw, told the players to leave the field in protest with ex-Liverpool star Mane one of those left on the touchline with the scoreline at 0-0.
Eventually, Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz, formerly of Manchester City, stepped up following a lengthy delay. He had the chance to win the game in the final seconds, but opted to try a Panenka that sailed into the hands of Edouard Mendy.
Senegal qualified for the final by knocking out Mohamed Salah and Egypt. Mane scored the winner in that game and Pape Gueye put The Lions in front a few minutes into extra time with a sensational shot from distance.
Ahead of the game, the Senegalese Football Federation expressed "serious concerns" over the security of its national team after it arrived in Rabat.
Senegal was aiming to win the competition for a second time, having lifted the trophy in 2022, but felt that it wasn't being looked after by host country Morocco.
Players were swarmed by supporters who were attempting to take selfies. They had to push their way through to the team bus after arriving in the capital by train.
The FSF also complained in an official statement about the hotel they had been allocated, the number of tickets given to their fans, and the lack of a training field.
"What happened yesterday was not normal," Senegal manager Thiaw said in a press conference.
"Given the number there, anything could have happened. My players could have been in danger. That type of thing should not happen between two brother countries."
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Mane, who is Senegal's all-time leading scorer with 52 goals in 123 appearances, announced that this would be his final AFCON ahead of the final taking place.
"I think he made his decision in the heat of the moment — the country does not agree, and I as coach of the national team do not agree at all," said Thiaw.
"His decision is no longer up to him. There is a whole people behind him too and they would like to see him continue. We would like to keep him for as long as possible."