The dramatic final of the Africa Cup of Nations descended into chaotic scenes, with Morocco's head coach Walid Regragui likening the event to a suspense thriller. The match was marred by a major incident where the Senegalese squad walked off the pitch in protest during stoppage time.
A 'Hitchcockian' Drama Unfolds on the Pitch
In the dying moments of the highly anticipated final, the video assistant referee intervened to award a penalty to Morocco. This contentious decision prompted an unprecedented reaction from the Senegal team, who left the field in a coordinated act of protest. Walid Regragui, the Moroccan coach, later summed up the extraordinary tension by calling the entire situation 'Hitchcockian', a reference to the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock.
Senegal's Protest and Eventual Return
Senegal's Pape Gueye, who ultimately scored the winning goal, shed light on his team's emotional state. He expressed a profound sense of injustice, claiming a prior foul on his team had been ignored by the match officials. "What we felt was injustice. There had been a foul for us and the referee chose not to look at the VAR," Gueye stated, explaining the rationale behind the walk-off.
He credited senior player Sadio Mané with convincing the squad to return to the pitch and remobilise. "We were frustrated, but Sadio told us to come back on the pitch to remobilise us. We all saw what happened at the end," Gueye said. The team's decision to resume play was driven by a determination to give their all, which culminated in Gueye's decisive goal and a victory he described with immense pride.
Aftermath and Accusations
The fallout from the match extended beyond the final whistle. In the heated aftermath, Walid Regragui directed strong criticism towards an unnamed individual, referred to as 'Thiaw', labelling his actions as 'shameful'. This added another layer of controversy to a final that will be remembered more for its off-the-ball drama than its football. The event has sparked widespread debate about the use of VAR in high-stakes matches and the protocols for managing player protests in international football.
