Tyler Hinton breaks down the madness in Morocco, with a minute-by-minute analysis of the mayhem that began in stoppage time.
Social media has been flooded with screenshots and snippets from tonight’s AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco, and deservedly so. This game had everything necessary for virality. Tonight’s match broke the fundamentals of football. An unprecedented evening of football cloaked in controversy, that demonstrated the good, the bad and the ugly of African football.
The game stood goalless, after a cagey, closely fought 90 minutes. The match had all the typical traits of a final, both teams reserved, desperate to give nothing away.
The 2nd minute of stoppage time is when the bout went off script.
90+2
The ball dropped kindly for Ismaila Sarr who nodded the ball into the back of Bounou’s net. The Palace man wheeled off in jubilance. Yet, he hadn’t heard the whistle of referee Jean-Jacques Ndula who deemed Abdoulay Seck’s tug on Achraf Hakimi in the buildup to be of an illegal nature. Despite the Senegalese cries of “soft foul”, the game remained goalless, as the decision couldn’t go to VAR due to the whistle being prematurely blown.
90+5
Déjà vu as more box-based drama occurred. Morocco swung in a corner, as the ball floated in, Brahim Diaz dropped to the deck. Referee Ndula is advised to review the footage.
90+7
Ndula watched the monitor, repeatedly, whilst Senegalese staff and players were held off by security. Malick Diouf appeared to have his arms around the neck of Brahim Diaz, who went to ground fairly easily. Ndula had seen enough, he broke free from the crowd, prior to pointing to the spot.
90+10
The Senegal players refused to accept the decision, berating Ndula, who at this point is powerless, the decision had been made. Sarr and Diouf were shown yellow cards for their persistence. Simultaneously, the small section of Senegalese supporters in the Prince Moulay Abdellah began rioting in protest, launching chairs and other projectiles leading to police action.
90+13
The conventions of the sport were then shattered by Senegal manager Pape Thiaw, who instructed his side to leave the pitch. The Senegal players headed down the dugout into their changing room. All but one, as Sadio Mane remained pitch side.
90+20
The Senegalese team re-appeared, greeted by the rowdy cheers of the majority Moroccan crowd in attendance who were one spot kick away from continental dominance.
90+21
Brahim Diaz, the starlet of Moroccan football, the golden boot winner, readied himself for the penalty. The Madrista on the brink of history had to fend with the dark arts of Edouard Mendy. The Senegalese goalkeeper earned a yellow card for his attempts to intimidate Diaz.
90+24
19 minutes since the penalty was given, the ball was finally sat in position. On Ndula’s whistle Brahim Diaz approached the ball. Panenka. Saved.
Mendy didn’t move, and Brahim Diaz is left utterly embarrassed. The pressure drowned Diaz and he blundered what should have been the winner, what should have been the goal that ended Morocco’s 50-year misery. Extra Time was imminent in a silent Rabat.
94th Minute
Senegal found themselves in a position I’m sure they wouldn’t have expected when they were sat in protest in the dressing room. The game was still hanging in the balance. A tidy backheel by Sadio Mane to Idrissa Gana Gueye allowed the Evertonian to spray the ball through to Pape Gueye. The midfielder burst through the Moroccan half with power, precision and one thing on his mind. Pape Gueye shrugged off Hakimi before unleashing a rocket across goal. On the stretch, but on his favoured left foot. Pape Gueye’s effort crashed into to the upper right of the goal. Bounou left bewildered. Morocco completely baffled. Senegal somehow were 1-0 up.
98th Minute
Brahim Diaz was substituted, and rightfully so. Since his miss he was a mere passenger. Physically on the pitch, but mentally stuck on the penalty spot.
104th Minute
Morocco remembered that the game was still to be played, as Ezzalzouli blasted down the left, a familiar sight in normal time. The winger flashed the ball into the box, but En-Nesyri couldn’t glance the header on target.
108th Minute
Minutes after half time of extra time, Morocco cracked the bar in the scrappy aftermath of a corner. The Senegal players threw themselves in front of two volleys and cleared the danger.
111th Minute
Cherif Ndiaye had a blindingly easy opportunity to double the Lions of Teranga’s lead. Skewing the open goal chance. But on closer inspection, Yassine Bounou made a crucial intervention, clawing the ball off Ndiaye and out of play.
115th Minute
Goalscorer Pape Gueye walloped another shot at Bounou, stinging the Moroccan keepers’ hands. Senegal were taking control, cruising towards victory.
Full Time
Ndula blew his busy whistle for the final time, crowning Senegal Champions of Africa. The match, defined by insanity, had drawn to a close, and so to the spectacle of the Africa Cup of Nations. Senegal had won the competition for just the second time in their history. The golden age taste victory once more.
The final summarised by ludicrous scenes, dubious officiating and tangible passion. Certainly, a game hard to forget. Tonight’s match acted as an advert for African football. Maybe not the advert Africa would have chosen, but an advert nonetheless.
