Image Credits: Imago Images
In what will be remembered as one of the most chaotic finals in African football history, Senegal claimed their second Africa Cup of Nations title with a dramatic 1-0 extra-time victory over hosts Morocco on Sunday night – but not before the match descended into absolute pandemonium that threatened to derail the entire tournament.
Liverpool legend Sadio Mane has emerged as the hero both on and off the pitch, not only being crowned tournament MVP but also single-handedly convincing his furious teammates to return to the field after they walked off in protest during the most astonishing 14-minute delay in AFCON history.
With the match deadlocked at 0-0 deep into stoppage time at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, chaos erupted in the 98th minute when referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a controversial penalty after a VAR review. Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf was adjudged to have tugged Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz to the ground during a corner kick.
The decision sparked immediate fury from the Senegalese contingent, made worse by the fact that just moments earlier, the referee had disallowed what appeared to be a legitimate Senegal goal.
In unprecedented scenes, Senegal coach Pape Thiaw ordered his entire squad off the pitch in protest. Most players immediately stormed down the tunnel toward the dressing room while pandemonium erupted in the stands.
However, Sadio Mane revealed after the game that he was the one who convinced his side to return to the field and ultimately go on to win the competition after Brahim Diaz squandered the penalty kick of an ambitious paneka.
Speaking to the media, he said:
“Yes, it was I who convinced the team to return to the field. The players and the coach had decided to withdraw, and I didn’t understand that decision, but finally, I told everyone to return immediately and to play no matter the cost.”
“We have to give a good image for football. I think it would be crazy to not play this game because ‘what, the referee gave a penalty and we go out of the game”? I’d rather lose than this kind of thing happen to our football.”
Meanwhile, Senegal coach Pape Thiaw also apologised after the game for his role in the chaos:
“After thinking about it, I realised that I shouldn’t have asked them to go off. I apologise for that,” he said. “Sometimes you can react in the heat of the moment. Before that, we scored a goal that was not given. But now we accept that referees do make mistakes and we apologise.”
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