Senegal AFCON match erupts in violence, police respond

The Africa Cup of Nations final was marred by fan violence and controversy. Riot police were deployed after disturbances erupted in the closing stages of the match between Senegal and host nation Morocco.

Controversial Penalty and Player Reactions

Senegal’s players reacted angrily after Morocco was awarded a controversial penalty deep into stoppage time. El Hadji Malick Diouf was penalised for pulling down Brahim Diaz in the Senegal box. This prompted Senegal manager Pape Thiaw to order his players off the pitch. The decision came shortly after Senegal had a goal of their own ruled out earlier in stoppage time. Some Senegal players briefly left the field before returning to play. The resulting penalty, taken by Diaz, was saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy after a lengthy delay.

Fan Violence in the Stands

Alongside the on-field drama, there were unsavoury scenes in the stands. A section of the stadium housing Senegal fans saw clashes between fans and stewards. Disturbing footage showed chairs being used as weapons during the violence, which spilled onto the pitch. Riot police were later seen gathering near the area where the trouble originated.

Match Summary

Despite the chaos, Senegal ultimately secured a 1-0 victory in extra time. After a tense period, Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal with a left-footed strike four minutes into extra time. Ismaila Sarr had a header ruled out for Senegal in normal time. Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missed a crucial penalty, and Senegal held on to win their second AFCON title in three tournaments.