Senegal wins AFCON, defeats Morocco 1-0

Senegal are Africa Cup of Nations champions after a 1-0 win against Morocco in a chaotic final in Rabat.

Pape Gueye scored the only goal of the game with a thumping strike into the top corner in extra time, reports New York Times.

There were unprecedented scenes in second-half stoppage time as Brahim Diaz missed a controversial penalty, which was awarded on VAR review after he was judged to have been fouled by El Hadji Malick Diouf.

Senegal players left the field in protest at that decision and after a premature decision ensured VAR could not intervene when Ismaila Sarr thought he had given his side the lead moments before.

Fans broke through hoardings in the stands in the wake of the penalty decision in the ninth minute of added time.

Moroccans, hands on heads, in tears and covering their eyes. Senegal completely spent with exhaustion and on their knees in delight.

Many made a beeline for heroic goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, others sprinted towards their fans to celebrate with them.

The full-time scenes are wondrous from a Senegalese perspective, gut-wrenching from a Moroccan one.

Pape Thiaw’s men have done the unthinkable, considering the cards they were dealt in this final.

Edouard Mendy and Pape Gueye are the heroes, but every player in a green shirt has penned their name in the Senegalese history books this evening.

A monumental performance in every facet.

The full-time whistle goes and Senegal have won the most mind-boggling, extraordinary match I have ever seen!

Sadio Mane and his team-mates are African champions for the second time, following up their triumph four years ago with victory behind enemy lines in Rabat.

A scarcely believable match is over and there are smiles plastered across the faces of every Senegalese player, staff member and fan in this stadium.

Moroccan players and fans can’t believe it. They have been beaten for the first time at this tournament.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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