2026-01-18
The African Cup final between Senegal and Morocco It will be marked as one of the most controversial and surreal in the history of the tournament. Senegal was proclaimed champion after winning 1-0 in extra timebut the title came wrapped in a major scandal, with protests, brawls and a threat to leave the field that completely distorted the outcome of the match.
The breaking point came after a maximum penalty awarded in favor of Morocco for an alleged lack of Brahim Diazan arbitration decision that ignited the anger of the Senegalese team, considering that it was not punishable, much less in a final. The tension was such that Senegal threatened to leave the field of play before the start of extra time, causing a stoppage close to 20 minutes and an unbreathable atmosphere in the stadium.
To aggravate the spectacle, the Brahim Diaztop scorer of the tournament, missed the penalty in an incredible way when trying to define lo answerwhich generated even more controversy and left the footballer visibly affected. Although his African Cup was outstanding, that failure in a historic final left him exposed to criticism and will open a debate that will continue over time.
In terms of football, Senegal was superior during much of the matchespecially in the first half, imposing their physicality and control of the game despite significant losses. Morocco resisted thanks to a Bono monumentalwhose interventions prevented the visitors from scoring on several occasions, keeping the score at 0-0 until half-time and keeping the hosts alive.
Already in extra time, with tempers running high and the game in disarray, Pope Gueye He sealed the final at minute 92 with a spectacular run and finish for the final 1-0. After the goal, Brahim was immediately substituted, in a scene that reflected general confusion. Senegal celebrated a deserved title in sports, but marred by a final historic, chaotic and embarrassingwhich left more headlines for the scandal than for football.
