Africa Cup of Nations final ends in controversy: refereeing decision leads Senegal to leave the pitch for several minute

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final between Morocco and Senegal was supposed to be a celebration of continental football. Instead, it descended into a refereeing scandal that will be discussed for years to come. Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo found himself at the center of a storm following a series of highly controversial decisions that sparked chaos at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

The tension reached a breaking point in the final minutes of regulation and bled into a high-drama stoppage time, featuring a disallowed goal for Sadio Mané’s side and a highly questionable penalty awarded to the hosts that nearly led to a historic boycott.

The first major flashpoint occurred in the 91st minute. With the score deadlocked and the title on the line, Senegal appeared to have found the winner through a powerful header following a corner kick. However, Ndala Ngambo immediately signaled for a foul in the box—an alleged infringement that left the Senegalese bench in disbelief. While the Moroccan fans celebrated the reprieve, the Senegal technical staff, led by Pape Thiaw, erupted in protest, claiming the contact was minimal and a natural part of any set-piece battle.

Just six minutes later, the script flipped in favor of the Atlas Lions. During a corner in the Senegalese area, El Hadji Diouf was judged to have impeded Brahim Díaz. Initially, the referee signaled to play on, but the VAR room intervened, summoning the Congolese official to the monitor. After a lengthy review, Ngambo pointed to the spot, awarding Morocco a penalty in the 97th minute.

This decision was the final straw for Pape Thiaw. In a move rarely seen in international finals, the Senegal manager ordered his players to abandon the pitch. Thiaw signaled to his squad to head toward the tunnel, a behavior he categorized as a necessary protest against what he deemed "systemic injustice."

Amidst the absolute pandemonium, one man kept his head: Sadio Mané. The Al-Nassr star and Senegal captain refused to let the match end in a forfeit. In a display of immense leadership and "Fair Play," Mané gathered his teammates, overruled his manager’s order to walk out, and urged them to trust their goalkeeper, Édouard Mendy.

Mané’s intervention likely saved Senegal from a catastrophic fate. Had the team abandoned the match, they would have faced severe sanctions from CAF and FIFA, including massive fines and a potential ban from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled for later this year.

The chaos caused a massive delay, meaning the penalty was not actually taken until the 113th minute. Real Madrid star Brahim Díaz stepped up with the weight of a nation on his shoulders. In an attempt to humiliate Mendy and seal the title in style, Brahim attempted a "Panenka" chip down the center.

However, the gamble failed spectacularly. Mendy, stayed rooted to the spot and easily gathered the ball, denying Morocco the winning goal and leaving Brahim stunned. The miss sent the match into a psychological tailspin, leaving the Moroccan hosts in a state of shock as they missed their golden opportunity to secure the trophy on home soil.