A superior Senegal in first half
This final was off to a breakneck start. While the Atlas Lions have kicked off the game, they are the ones who will concede the first big opportunity of the match. After five minutes of play. On a nice cross from the left, Pape Gueye found himself alone at the first post but his header fell on a Yassine Bounou who anticipated the ball’s trajectory.
Achraf Hakimi and his teammates continued to endure in this first part complicated for them. Moments later Nicolas Jackson served Iliman Ndiaye who found himself alone face to face with Yassine Bounou. And like Pape Gueye earlier, he too will lose his duel against the Moroccan shot stopper (38th). Cornered, Morocco ended this first period without a shot on target against a more conquering but ineffective Senegal.
Morocco now enters the final
After such a disappointing first period, Walid Regragui undoubtedly raised his voice in the locker room to perk up his players. And this was in the first quarter of the second period in which the Atlas Lions exerted an irrespirable pressing on the Senegalese defense which struggled a lot in its ball exits.
Despite several attempts, Morocco nevertheless failed to beat Edouard Mendy, also helped by his defense. But the first highlight of the second period came in the 65th minute when Neil El Aynaoui seriously injured his head after a collision with El Hadji Malick Diouf in a duel.
The last fifteen minutes of the meeting will be inflamed with a highly criticized arbitration by Mr. Jean-Jacques Ndala. In the 91st minute, the Congolese whistled too quickly and denied a goal to Ismaila Sarr and Senegal who thought they had scored the winning goal. Mr Ndala blew a stroller on Hakimi in the duel leading to the goal. Two minutes later, a penalty was awarded to Morocco. And hello the chaos.
Discord penalty, refusal to play, fights... The half-hour of shame
After this penalty was awarded, Senegal refused to play. Pape Thiaw even invited their players to leave the field. A good part followed him into the tunnel, but Sadio Mané as leader, remained on the field and asked everyone to come back.
Meanwhile, in the stands, it was a disaster. In the press gallery or even at the level of the supporters, it was a total brawl. The tensions lasted a good half an hour before calm returned.
Brahim Diaz therefore appeared in front of Edouard Mendy, but attempted a completely failed panenka that the Senegalese goalkeeper quietly stopped. The two teams therefore headed for extra time.
Pape Gueye, the Lion killer
And four minutes later, Pape Gueye liberated all of Senegal by beating Yassine Bounou with a heavy strike (94th) which will give Senegal its second star after 2022. This goal completely weakened the Moroccan supporters who lowered the atmosphere in the stands.
However, the players continued the battle on the field. But always found Mendy on their way, the goalkeeper of Al Ahli, irreproachable in overtime. Had it not been for the immense Yassine Bounou who conceded a shot from Cherif Ndiaye in the final moments, Morocco could have conceded a second goal. But the sentence stopped there for Morocco who will still have to wait before etching their second star on their jersey.
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Philemon MBALE
Rédacteur sportif
Passionné de sport depuis toujours, partage avec vous les dernières actualités et analyses du monde sportif.