Ndala first cancels a valid goal for the guests in the 90th minute, then whistles a questionable penalty for the hosts. Senegal leaves the pitch in protest, returns to avoid Fifa sanctions, the former AC Milan player misses badly from the spot. Gueye decides it in extra time
Senegal won their second African Cup of Nations after the one in 2022, chilling the enthusiasm of hosts Morocco who were sure of bringing home their second star 50 years after their first. At the Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat under the incredulous eyes of Gianni Infantino it ended 1-0 with Pape Gueye’s goal in the first extra half, but paradoxically the result is almost irrelevant compared to what happened on an absurd, chaotic, violent and ridiculous evening, with the referee the absolute protagonist. Obviously in the negative. Let’s go straight to the news.
SATANIC ARBITRATION
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And let’s move straight to the end of the second half, when a match controlled by Senegal and tied at 0-0 was blown up by satanic refereeing. The whistle of the Democratic Republic of Congo Jean Jaques Ngambo Ndala, in the 8 minutes of injury time first canceled out a regular goal to Senegal awarded by Sarr and a moment later went to the VAR to give a non-existent penalty to Morocco for a hold by Diouf on Brahim.
one-eyed beating
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All hell broke loose: disagreements between the players, and an invasion of the pitch by some colorful Senegal fans. Behind the goal, blind beatings, throwing of chairs and other blunt objects, in the middle of the pitch, many Senegal players leave indignantly for the changing rooms. That leaves Sadio Mané, who has more head than the others: if Senegal had abandoned the final of the Africa Cup of Nations they would have lost the World Cup: the former Liverpool player runs into the changing rooms and calls his teammates, who return to watch the penalty.
WICKED SPOON
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Brahim Diaz goes to the spot, so far in a very bad evening. We are at 114′, 24 minutes after the 90th minute. a recovery that was 8′. Senegalese warned for protests and anger, absurd tension. And what does the Madridista do? Choose a Panenka, a spoon, a scavet. Which is paler than the face of the boy from Malaga who hugged Morocco. Edouard Mendy thanks him, returns the ball and the referee blows the final whistle. Brahim is destroyed, he is consoled by everyone but his gaze is empty, dull, astonished.
gorge and siege
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Extra time that opens with a great goal from Pape Gueye, Villarreal midfielder: El Aynaoui loses the ball, Gueye runs, runs, runs and when he is 20 meters away he beats the excellent Bounou with a magnificent left-footed shot into the top corner. Divine justice they say in Dakar. The siege of Morocco begins, already without Brahim. Senegal’s defense rejects everything, and in the second period of extra time Bounou performs a miracle on Cherif Ndiaye who then shoots the rebound into an empty net. Absurd, unthinkable. It is the gateway to the riots, now quelled: lots of police, the Senegalese fans have returned to their places and have started beating heavily on their drums again. It’s a hypnotic soundtrack, and brings us to the end of a surreal evening. A very African story, which is not good for African football.
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