Senegal beat host, Morocco, in Rabat, to win a chaotic AfCON (Africa Cup of Nations) for a second time – but only after a final that was overshadowed when the eventual winning players temporarily refused to play when the hosts were awarded a controversial stoppage-time penalty when the match goalless.

Midfielder Pape Gueye scored the only goal in the fourth minute of extra time to seal a second triumph in four years for the Lions. The game, however, was marred by late controversy as Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw tried to usher his team off the field when Morocco was awarded a spot-kick in the 98th minute when defender El Hadji Malick Diouf was said to have brought down Brahim Diaz.

When the players returned to the field roughly 16 minutes later, Real Madrid forward Diaz stepped up to take the penalty but had his attempted Panenka penalty saved by Edouard Mendy. Thiaw was irritated with referee Jean Jacques Ndala - who awarded the penalty after reviewing the incident on the VAR monitor - for ruling out a goal for his side moments earlier.

Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr had bundled home from close range, but his effort was chalked off for a foul by Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi. Senegal goalkeeper Mendy went to the dressing room but returned to the field after Sadio Mane encouraged his players to finish the game.

Gueye scored the only goal of the game with a stunning individual effort in the 94th minute. But the final descended into chaos deep into stoppage time when Morocco was awarded a penalty after a VAR review by referee Jean-Jacques Ndala when Diaz went down the box under the challenge of El Hadji Malick Diouf.

Senegal, who had an opening goal disallowed for a soft foul on Morocco captain Achraf Hakimin moments before, were outraged and the majority of the Senegal team, led by head coach Pape Thiaw, walked off the pitch, leading to a 14-minute delay.

After “the threat of football broke out again,” Diaz missed the penalty kick with a bizarre ‘Panenka-style’ attempt that backfired – he was subsequently substituted in extra time. The final then went to extra time, where Gueye scored a stunning goal to win Senegal their second Africa Cup of Nations title in four years, in a final that will be remembered as one of the most outrageous international matches of all time.

As for Morocco, they missed the chance to win a first AfCON title since 1976.