Key Takeaways:
- During Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final, most Senegal players exited the pitch in protest over a late penalty awarded to Morocco
- The game was suspended for nearly 20 minutes as fans attempted to invade the field following the controversial VAR decision
- Pape Gueye secured a 1-0 victory for Senegal with a decisive goal in the fourth minute of extra time
Incident Analysis and Match Timeline
The Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday was eclipsed by dramatic events involving the Senegalese team. As the match entered injury time with neither side having scored, the referee, following a VAR assessment for a challenge on Brahim Diaz, awarded a penalty to Morocco. In protest of the decision, the majority of Senegal’s players left the field, expressing clear discontent after already seeing a goal at the opposite end chalked off minutes earlier for a marginal foul.
Notably, Sadio Mane chose to remain on the field, actively urging his teammates to return and continue play. The situation escalated further in the stands, where some Senegalese supporters attempted to breach security and enter the pitch, instigating altercations with security staff.
Senegal's manager Pape Thiaw told his players to walk off the field in the AFCON final after VAR awarded a penalty to Morocco in stoppage time. pic.twitter.com/WAujsSB3ND
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 18, 2026
Prolonged Disruption and Resolution
The interruption lasted for nearly 20 minutes before calm was restored. Morocco’s Brahim Diaz finally took the much-anticipated penalty, opting for a ‘panenka’ approach, but Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy made a crucial save to keep the scores level. In the subsequent extra time, Pape Gueye broke the deadlock with a remarkable goal in the fourth minute, ultimately sealing Senegal’s 1-0 triumph.
| Event | Time | Details |
|---|---|---|
| VAR penalty to Morocco | Injury time | Foul on Brahim Diaz; most Senegal players leave field |
| Match suspended | Injury time | Senegal fans attempt pitch invasion; security clashes occur |
| Penalty taken | Injury time (after 20 minutes) | Brahim Diaz’ penalty saved by Edouard Mendy |
| Winning goal | Extra time (4th minute) | Pape Gueye scores for Senegal, final score 1-0 |
FIFA President’s Reaction and Appeal for Respect
FIFA President Gianni Infantino strongly criticised both the walk-off by Senegal’s players and the disturbances in the stands. In a statement sent to AFP, Infantino condemned the behaviour and emphasised the imperative for all teams to respect decisions made by match officials, underscoring the risk such incidents pose to the integrity of football. “We strongly condemn the behaviour of some ‘supporters’ as well as some Senegalese players and technical staff members. It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner,” Infantino said.
He also congratulated Morocco on their performance throughout the tournament and on being exceptional hosts – an encouraging sign ahead of their co-hosting duties for the men’s 2030 World Cup. Infantino urged teams and fans alike to adhere to exemplary standards, warning against the negative image incidents such as Sunday’s can project globally. He expressed his expectation that the Confederation of African Football’s disciplinary bodies would address the disturbances accordingly. “The ugly scenes witnessed today must be condemned and never repeated. I reiterated that they have no place in football and I expect that the relevant disciplinary bodies at CAF will take the appropriate measures.” the FIFA president added.
