‘Shameful’: How controversial AFCON final descended into total chaos
A missed Panenka in the 24th minute of stoppage time, a team storming off the pitch and ultimately a second Africa Cup of Nations title for Senegal. That, though, barely scratches the surface in telling the story of a truly extraordinary AFCON final on Sunday night. Pape Gueye scored a brilliant extra-time winner to leave Morocco devastated in front of their home fans in Rabat. Either side of that strike, total chaos ensued. Here’s what happened – and all the fallout. For 90 minutes, it had been a typical cagey, tense final. It remained goalless heading into eight minutes of stoppage time, at which point the mayhem began. Senegal thought they had won it when Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr nodded into the net on the rebound after Abdoulaye Seck’s header had hit the woodwork. However, the whistle had already gone as the referee deemed Seck to have fouled Achraf Hakimi. Replays showed that to be a harsh decision, with Hakimi going down under minimal contact, but the quick whistle meant that VAR could not …
