The Senegal team won their second African Cup of Nations title this Sunday (18) with a 1-0 victory over Morocco in a match played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, in Rabat, the Moroccan capital.
The only goal of the game was scored by Villareal midfielder Pape Gueye four minutes into extra time. It was the Senegalese team’s second title in the competition, after having lifted the cup for the first time in the 2021 edition, when they beat Egypt in the final, on penalties.
Brazil’s opponent in the group stage of the World Cup, the Moroccan team wasted the chance to also lift the cup for the second time in its history, after winning the title in 1976.
The home team had a great opportunity to open the scoring with a controversial penalty awarded by the referee in second-half stoppage time, after consultation with the VAR indicated that Malick Diouf, from Senegal, had brought down Brahim Díaz, from Morocco, inside the area.
Outraged by the referee’s decision, some players from the Senegal team even left the pitch towards the changing rooms, but ended up being convinced to return to the pitch.
Real Madrid striker Brahim Díaz went for the penalty, but tried to dig into the middle of the goal, giving the ball into the hands of Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Shortly after the charge, the referee ended the match, taking the game to extra time.
To reach the final, the Senegal team advanced to the top of its group, after victories against Botswana and Benin and a draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
