AfriPulse
–
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Senegal’s national team staged a dramatic on-field boycott
to protest a controversial late penalty awarded to Morocco, only to return
moments later to witness their opponents squander the golden opportunity.
In an unprecedented and chaotic Africa Cup of Nations
(AFCON) final on Sunday evening, the Senegalese players, having initially
refused to continue after the contentious 90th-minute call, watched as Brahim
Diaz stepped up only to lose the penalty, leaving the scoreline level and
sending the match to extra time.
The incident occurred when El Hadji Malick Diouf appeared to
drag Diaz by the neck from a corner kick. After a VAR review, DR Congo referee
Jean Jacques Ndala Ngambo awarded Morocco the penalty.
Following an on-field melee with the referee and Morocco’s
players, Senegal coach Pape Thiaw called his players off the pitch.
The standoff lasted minutes before Sadio Mané called his
compatriots back. Diaz subsequently missed the resultant penalty.
Moments later, P. Gueye scored to give Senegal the lead in
the extra time.
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Source: NigerianEye | Read the Full Story…
