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Coach Voices Concern as Rabat Erupts After Tense Morocco Final

E28 Staff1
Morocco

The Africa Cup of Nations final turned into a night of controversy and heartbreak as Senegal lifted the trophy in Rabat following a dramatic extra-time victory over hosts Morocco.

Morocco Coach Slams β€œShameful” Scenes After AFCON Final Chaos

In the dying moments of stoppage time, Morocco were awarded a crucial penalty that could have sealed their long-awaited triumph. However, Senegal’s players walked off the pitch in protest, forcing a lengthy delay while tensions rose inside the stadium.

Morocco head coach Walid Regragui did not hold back in his post-match reaction, calling the scenes damaging to the reputation of African football.

β€œπ‘»π’‰π’† π’Šπ’Žπ’‚π’ˆπ’† π’˜π’† π’”π’‰π’π’˜π’†π’… 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’˜π’π’“π’π’… π’˜π’‚π’” π’†π’™π’•π’“π’†π’Žπ’†π’π’š π’”π’‰π’‚π’Žπ’†π’‡π’–π’. 𝑨 π’Žπ’‚π’•π’„π’‰ 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒐 π’π’π’π’ˆ 𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒂 π’…π’†π’„π’Šπ’”π’Šπ’—π’† π’Žπ’π’Žπ’†π’π’•,” π‘Ήπ’†π’ˆπ’“π’‚π’ˆπ’–π’Š π’”π’‚π’Šπ’….

Late Penalty Miss and Senegal’s Title Triumph

After VAR intervention, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala ruled that Senegal defender El Hadji Malik Diouf had fouled Brahim Diaz in the box, awarding the hosts a last-gasp penalty. Objects were thrown from the stands, and security struggled to calm the situation as play was halted for nearly 20 minutes.

When the match finally resumed, Diaz attempted a delicate Panenka-style kick, but Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy read it easily and made the save.

The missed chance proved costly. In extra time, Pape Gueye struck the decisive goal to secure Senegal’s second AFCON title in three years, silencing the home crowd.

Reflecting on the missed opportunity, Regragui added:

β€œπ‘―π’† 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒐𝒐 π’Žπ’–π’„π’‰ π’•π’Šπ’Žπ’† 𝒕𝒐 π’•π’‰π’Šπ’π’Œ 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 π’•π’‚π’Œπ’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’‘π’†π’π’‚π’π’•π’š. 𝑰𝒏 π’‡π’Šπ’π’‚π’π’”, π’Žπ’π’Žπ’†π’π’•π’” π’π’Šπ’Œπ’† 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 π’„π’‰π’‚π’π’ˆπ’† π’†π’—π’†π’“π’šπ’•π’‰π’Šπ’π’ˆ.”

Despite the disappointment, Morocco now shift their focus to the upcoming World Cup in North America, where it will face Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti in the group stage.

β€œFootball can be cruel,” Regragui concluded. β€œWe were one kick away from history, but now we must move forward.”

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