Senegal's Dramatic AFCON Victory Marred by Controversy and Walk-Off Protest

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Senegal's thrilling African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final victory came at a cost, with controversy and a heated walk-off protest dominating the headlines. In the high-stakes match against Morocco, the Senegalese team's emotions ran high after a contentious penalty decision was made in the dying minutes, resulting in a score still standing at 0-0. The penalty was awarded following a VAR check for a tackle on Brahim Diaz. Tensions escalated as some Senegal players stormed off the pitch in protest, while the stadium erupted into chaos as Senegalese fans attempted to breach the field. The match was temporarily halted for nearly 20 minutes before Diaz could take the penalty, which was ultimately saved by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. However, in the fourth minute of extra time, Papa Gueye scored a stunning goal to seal Senegal's 1-0 win and claim the championship. In a post-match interview, Gueye revealed that Senegal's star player Sadio Mane had urged his teammates to return to the field and finish the game. "We felt a sense of injustice after the penalty was awarded," Gueye said. "Just before that, we believed we should have been awarded a goal, but the referee didn't review it. Sadio told us to come back, and we regrouped. Edouard made the crucial save, and we stayed focused to secure the win.