IFFHS CONTINENTAL NEWS - AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS
IFFHS NEWS – SENEGAL WINNER OF THE AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS
- Senegal won their second Cup of Nations title in the last three editions, after they defeated Egypt on penalties in Yaounde in 2022 to win the trophy for the very first time.
- Senegal stunned Morocco in the final yesterday as Pape Gueye's extra-time goal gave them a 1-0 win over the hosts after a chaotic end to the match marred by the eventual champions storming off the pitch in a lengthy protest following a controversial late penalty award.
- Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco when he stepped up to take the penalty in the 24th added minute of added time but Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted 'Panenka' shoot !
- The Senegal team had initially been riled by the referee's decision to disallow for a foul a goal scored by Ismaila Sarr in the second added minute.
- After Diaz's penalty miss, however, it felt almost inevitable that a galvanised Senegal would go on to score, and they did so in the fourth minute of extra time to stun the home fans in the crowd of 66,526 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadion in Rabat.
- After a brilliant attack, Pape Gueye advanced towards the box before beating goalkeeper Yassine Bounou with a superb strike into the top corner.
- Morocco could still have forced a penalty shoot-out, with Nayef Aguerd heading against the crossbar in the second half of extra time.
- But it was not to be for Morocco, who had been dreaming of winning the title in front of their own fans to end a 50-year wait to become African champions for just the second time.