The Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal will be remembered as one of the most controversial and tense in the tournament's recent history. A penalty awarded in stoppage time, Senegal's threat to walk off the field, and a decisive miss by Brahim Diaz marked a match that ended with Senegal crowned champions thanks to a goal by Pape Gueye in extra time. The Villarreal striker became a national hero by scoring the goal that gave Senegal its second continental title and extended Morocco's more than half-century drought without an African championship. The penalty that changed the course of the final: The key moment came in one of the last plays of regulation time. In the 90+10 minute, Brahim Diaz vehemently protested a foul by El Hadji Malick Diouf inside the penalty area. The referee consulted VAR and ultimately awarded a penalty to Morocco, a decision that sparked controversy. The play completely turned the match on its head. The penalty was taken by Brahim Diaz, the tournament's top scorer up to that point, but the Real Madrid player missed his shot, a Panenka attempt. The soft, central shot was easily saved by Edouard Mendy.

From hero to villain. The miss overshadowed the final and condemned Brahim, who went from being the host country's great hope to symbolizing the frustration of an entire nation.

Threat of abandonment and maximum tension

The referee's decision led to a chaotic ending. Senegal even threatened to abandon the match before extra time. Coach Pape Thiaw urged his players to leave the field in protest. All the visiting players, except Sadio Mane, went to the locker room, while Morocco and the referee remained on the field. Finally, the Senegalese players returned and the penalty was taken, leading to a conclusion that bordered on scandal.

Pape Gueye punishes Morocco in extra time

After Brahim Diaz's miss, the game calmed down and extra time arrived. Barely into extra time, Pape Gueye received the ball from Idrissa Gueye and unleashed a powerful shot that beat Bono, who had been impeccable throughout the match.

That goal was enough for Senegal to secure the second continental trophy in their history and dash Morocco's dreams in their own tournament.

A disallowed goal and key refereeing decisions

Minutes before the penalty, the referee had disallowed a goal for Senegal. Abdoulaye Seck had scored, but the goal was disallowed due to a previous foul by Abdoulaye Sarr on Achraf Hakimi, another decision that fueled the tension in the stadium. A duel marked by the fear of losing. The match began at a high tempo, end-to-end and with attacking ambition, but ended plagued by interruptions, fouls and a slow pace, dominated more by the fear of losing than by daring. Both teams, considered the best in Africa, built their path to the title with solid defenses. Bono sustains Morocco in critical moments. During the first half, Senegal was bolder, but they ran into an inspired Bono. The Al Hilal goalkeeper, formerly of Sevilla, was decisive once again, as he had been in the semi-final against Cameroon. After six minutes, following a corner from Lamine Camara, Pape Gueye headed the ball at the far post, but Bono miraculously appeared to prevent the goal. Later, the goalkeeper again made a crucial save in a one-on-one against Iliman Ndiaye, following a precise pass from Nicolas Jackson.

Morocco feels the pressure of being hosts

The break did Walid Regragui's team good, overwhelmed by the pressure of playing at home and the historical burden of more than 50 years without lifting the Africa Cup of Nations.

In the second half, Bilal El Khannous created danger with a great play down the right flank that ended in a cross for Ayoub El Kaabi, who, alone in front of the goal, shot wide and wasted a clear opportunity.

Interruptions and a chaotic ending

A heavy clash of heads between Neil El Aynaoui and Hadji Malick Diouf caused a stoppage of more than ten minutes that ultimately brought the game to a halt. Only in stoppage time did the excitement return, with another save from Bono and a shot over the bar from Abde. Then came everything else: the penalty, the threat of withdrawal, Brahim Diaz's miss, and Pape Gueye's goal that crowned Senegal and left Morocco mired in frustration. A historic, controversial, and tense final that cemented the Lions of Teranga's place in history and left an indelible mark on the Africa Cup of Nations.