The Africa Cup of Nations is rarely short on drama, but this year’s final delivered scenes that will be talked about for decades. What began as a cagey contest ended up becoming a full-on circus. Keep reading to find out how one of the craziest football finals ever witnessed unfolded.
An Initially Tense Affair
With Morocco hosting the tournament and chasing their first AFCON title since 1976, the pressure was immense, and many were expecting a cagey, safety-first approach in the final. The semi-finals had strongly suggested this would be the case too, as both finished goalless and had to be settled by a penalty shootout.
The first half produced just seven shots in total, generating a combined expected goals figure of only 0.7. Clear-cut chances were at a premium, with the only real opportunity falling to Iliman Ndiaye, whose effort was brilliantly saved. The second half continued in much the same vein, with Ayoub El Kaabi responsible for the only major opening, but he poked it narrowly wide.
Extra time felt very much like an inevitability, but with minutes to go, that all changed.
The Controversy Begins
In the 92nd minute, Senegal appeared to have finally broken the deadlock. A corner was swung into the box and met by the head of substitute Abdoulaye Seck. His effort struck the post, but the rebound deflected into the net. No goal was the verdict, though, as the referee blew for a foul as Seck met the ball.
Achraf Hakimi had gone to ground while tussling with Seck, but replays suggested contact was minimal. It was an extremely soft decision, but you could argue the ball might not have ended up in the net had the whistle not gone just earlier. Nevertheless, it was still a frustrating call to be on the receiving end of.
The Penalty Decision That Sparked Outrage
Frustration soon turned to outrage as just a few minutes later, Morocco were awarded a penalty following VAR intervention. The incident occurred after a corner was headed away by Malik Diouf. Initially, it seemed like nothing out of the ordinary had occurred, but Brahim Diaz was protesting his case to the referee with passion.
Upon review, there was slight contact, but Diaz had gone down very easily. Despite this, the referee pointed to the spot after consulting the monitor. The decision was met with disbelief from Senegal, who felt they were about to lose a final due to this extremely harsh decision.
In protest, the Senegal players stormed off the pitch, following instructions from their manager. Sadio Mane attempted to calm the situation and persuade his teammates to return, eventually succeeding. Although the penalty was awarded in the 98th minute, it took over 15 minutes before it was taken due to the walkout. During the delay, four players were booked as tensions reached boiling point.
A Missed Panenka and More Questions
When play finally resumed, Brahim Diaz stepped up to take the penalty he had controversially won. His effort was a soft chip down the middle, using his weaker foot. Edouard Mendy read it perfectly, stood his ground, and comfortably caught the ball.
Former referee Dermot Gallagher on whether Brahim Diaz missed his penalty on purpose… 👀 pic.twitter.com/MRld6wzi7N
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 19, 2026
It was such a poor penalty that some even questioned whether Diaz had deliberately missed. This theory was quickly dismissed by Mendy and makes little sense in any case. Even if Diaz had promised to miss, as a way to resume the match, there would have been no consequence for breaking such a promise, given it was the last kick of the game. Additionally, any player purposefully missing a penalty would surely just roll the ball well wide, to make it obvious.
Senegal Seal Victory in Extra Time
With the first 90 minutes finishing goalless, the match headed to extra time. It was at this stage that it suddenly became stretched and open. Just four minutes passed when Pape Gueye smashed a superb strike into the top corner to give Senegal the lead.
Chances followed at both ends, and Morocco came close when hitting the bar, but it was not to be.
Thiaw Faces Likely Punishment
Senegal’s manager, Pape Thiaw, was the man who encouraged his players off the pitch following the penalty decision. Morocco coach Walid Regragui labelled the protest “shameful” and claimed it did not honour African football. The powers that be will also take a dim view of Thiaw’s reaction, so a significant touchline ban appears likely. As bans only apply to competitive fixtures, this could even rule Thiaw out of being on the sidelines during the World Cup.
The Bizarre Towel Battle
As if the on-field drama was not enough, there was further controversy off the pitch. During the semi-final, match-day staff were seen repeatedly stealing the Nigerian goalkeeper’s towel. Aware of this, Senegal sent reserve goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf to guard Edouard Mendy’s towel during the final.
Senegal’s number 2 goalkeeper Yehvan Diouf had to wrestle with Moroccan ball boys to protect Edouard Mendy’s towel. 😭
WHAT A WARRIOR. 🙌🏾🦁🇸🇳❤️pic.twitter.com/cyUIRMVFEZ
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Footballtweet) January 19, 2026
What followed was astonishing. At one point, a group of Moroccan ball boys began dragging Diouf across the pitch as he clutched Mendy’s towel, before chasing him around the pitch. This all occurred while play was taking place, and it could have feasibly disrupted the match as Diouf ended up in the six-yard box as Morocco attacked.