The final of the Africa Cup of Nations descended into farce on Sunday as Senegal players left the field in protest over a penalty awarded to Morocco.

In extraordinary scenes, head coach Pape Thiaw appeared to urge his players off the pitch in Rabat following the decision to give the host nation a spot-kick deep into second-half stoppage time.

Brahim Diaz won the penalty after a VAR check determined that El Hadji Malick Diouf had fouled him by putting an arm around his neck when defending a Morocco corner.

The incident came moments after Senegal had a goal disallowed for a foul on Achraf Hakimi, which was also a debatable decision.

MORE: Full commentary and highlights from 2025 AFCON final

Senegal leave field over penalty protest in AFCON final

In the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time, Morocco were given a penalty for a foul on Diaz by Diouf. The Senegal full-back was judged to have pulled Diaz to the ground at a corner.

Referee Jean‑Jacques Ngambo Ndala awarded the spot-kick following a VAR review, prompting bedlam on the field.

Senegal were furious at the decision, and before the penalty could be taken, head coach Thiaw summoned his players to the sideline and encouraged them to leave the field of play, apparently in protest. After a few minutes of arguments on the touchline, the team headed down the tunnel to the locker rooms, with the exception of captain Sadio Mane.

Mane urged his team-mates to return and, as the clock ticked beyond the 20th minute of added time, the rest of the Senegal side came back onto the field. Channel 4 in the UK reported that Senegal fans inside the stadium were seen throwing chairs onto the pitch during the wait for play to resume, prompting police to intervene.

Eventually, the penalty was taken, but Diaz’s attempted Panenka was saved by Edouard Mendy. The referee immediately signalled the end of regulation time, with extra time to follow.

Morocco players looked nonplussed as Mendy caught the ball and pointed to the sky. Head coach Walid Regragui then appeared to berate Diaz after the referee signalled the end of normal time. Footage from a fan zone showed thousands of home fans in disbelief as confetti cannons were mistakenly set off.

Early in extra time, Pape Gueye scored a stunning goal to secure victory for Senegal.

Journalists clash as Morocco coach brands Senegal ‘shameful’

Regragui used his post-game press conference to describe the game as “a final with a Hitchcockian script”. He also criticised Thiaw and his players.

“The image we’ve given of Africa is shameful,” he said. “A coach who asks his players to leave the field… What Pape did does not honour Africa. He had already started in the press conference [before the game]. He wasn’t classy. But he is a champion, so he can say whatever he wants.

“We stopped the match in the eyes of the world for 10 minutes. That didn’t help Brahim. That doesn’t excuse Brahim for the way he hit the penalty. He hit it like that and we have to accept it. We were one minute from being African champions. That’s football. It’s often cruel. We missed what for some was the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Regragui was under huge pressure to win the tournament and was even called upon to resign by some Moroccan reporters at the press conference. “We were very close and so everybody is disappointed but in football, you need to come back strong, you need to accept what has happened,” he said.

According to Jonathan Wilson of The Guardian, several members of the Moroccan media then walked out of the room when Thiaw arrived to speak. This reportedly led to arguments with Senegalese reporters, which ultimately led to officials ending the press conference early.

The BBC later shared mobile phone footage corroborating the story.

CAF condemns ‘unacceptable behaviour’ in final

Africa’s football governing body issued a statement on January 19 in response to the events of Sunday’s final.

It said: “The Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) condemns the unacceptable behaviour of some players and officials during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Final between Morocco and Senegal in Rabat last night.

“CAF strongly condemns any inappropriate behaviour which occurs during matches, especially those targeting the refereeing team or match organizers. 

“CAF is reviewing all footage and will refer the matter to competent bodies for appropriate action to be taken against those found guilty.”

Did Brahim Diaz miss his ‘Panenka’ penalty on purpose?

Theories abounded on social media in the immediate aftermath that Diaz intentionally missed his penalty, perhaps considering the decision to give the foul unfair.

The Real Madrid attacker was confronted by goalkeeper Mendy and Mane while he readied himself to take the kick, which looked like typical gamesmanship from opposition players attempting to unsettle the taker. The referee had to order Mendy back to his line more than once and eventually showed him a yellow card.

Suggestions Diaz missed deliberately seem to be based on the other players’ reactions. When Mendy saves the kick, there are few Senegal players within camera shot who appear to celebrate. The keeper himself calmly points to the sky. The initial Morocco reaction is also muted, although Anass Salah-Eddine puts his hands to his head as Mendy catches the ball. Diaz himself shows little emotion at first, but he is soon in heated conversation with Regragui after the referee signals the end of regulation time.

Despite the claims online, neither Diaz nor any other Morocco players or coaches have suggested the penalty was missed deliberately. Regragui believes the 17-minute delay “disturbed” the player’s preparations for the big moment, but added: “But we can’t change what happened. That is how he chose to take the penalty. We need to look forwards now.”

Diaz was visibly shaken both on the bench and after fulltime as he collected his prize for finishing as the tournament’s top goal-scorer. He was presented the award by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who appeared to try to console him on the podium. Diaz paused for a photograph before leaving the stage quickly.

Former Morocco international Hassan Kachloul, speaking on Channel 4’s coverage in the UK, said Diaz was “going to have a lot of nightmares in the coming days” about the final. Efan Ekoku, the ex-Nigeria striker, said: “It is a moment Brahim Diaz will never get over.”

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