Senegal came from the dead to snatch victory from host, Morocco at the finals of the 35th Africa Cup Of Nations on Sunday.
A pass from Sadio Mane to Pape Gueye who strucked a powerful left-footed shot in the 94th left goalkeeper Yassien Bono helpless.
The solitary strike was enough for the Teranga Lions to be crowned African champions again after their first win in 2021/2022.
A controversial penalty in the dying minutes of the added time, forced Senegal players to leave the pitch and some of them going to the dressing room.
Five minutes was wasted arguing over the decision by the referee who consulted VAR before awarding the referee that infuriated the Senegalese players, who felt the referee was unduly favouring the Moroccans .
Though a critical look at the incident leading to the award of the penalty, shows that Senegalese defender, Diouf actually pulled Brahim Diaz down in the box.
The referee may not have seen it, but the Video Assistant Referee drew his attention to it and after a review, he agreed with the call and awarded the penalty.
After the fracas occasioned by the penalty award, with stalemate and indecision everywhere, Sadio Mane decided to call out his mates to come and continue the game.
He had to even run to the dressing room to call them out and the big moment came for the Real Madrid player,Diaz but the weight of the moment was too much for him to carry and his weak penalty was easily stopped by Mendy and the game went into extra time .
The Senegalese took control in the extra time and kept pressing forward until the moment when Gueye found the back of the net, and they defended stoutly until the final whistle.
The Teranga Lions have made four finals in 2002,2019,2021,and 2025 winning two with dominant display that left no one in doubt that they were deservedly the better side.
Senegal will pocket the prize money of $10m , scored 13 goals and kept five clean sheets to lift the title
AWARDS
Sadio Mane was voted Player of the Tournament
Moroccan goalkeeper, Yessien Bono,won the Best Goalkeeper award
Brahim Diaz,won the top scorer, and also the first player from Morocco to score five goals in a single tournament at the AFCON.
He will however be remembered as the player who denied Morocco the opportunity to win the AFCON when he could not put his penalty pass Eduardo Mendy with the last kick of the ball.
