"This had been, by general agreement, the most predictable, least dramatic Cup of Nations in living memory. And that was true, until eight minutes into injury time in the final, when a video assistant referee decision contrived to produce perhaps the most ludicrous finale to any major final in history. Senegal won it, but that is a tiny detail in the denouement that erupted."
"The chaos began two minutes into injury time when Abdoulaye Seck was penalised for a slight push on Achraf Hakimi as he headed against the post. Ismaila Sarr nodded in, but the whistle had already gone. Four minutes later, Adam Masina was penalised, following a VAR review, for a slight pull on Morocco's Brahim Diaz as he defended a corner. For Senegal, already convinced there was a plot against them, that was too much and the majority of their players stormed off."
The tournament had felt predictable and low on drama until a late VAR decision turned the final into chaos. Two minutes into stoppage time Abdoulaye Seck was penalised for a push on Achraf Hakimi as he headed against the post, and Ismaila Sarr's effort was ruled out. Four minutes later Adam Masina was penalised after a VAR review for a slight pull on Brahim Diaz at a corner. Senegal's players walked off in protest and were later persuaded to return after intervention from Sadio Mané, Claude Le Roy and El Hadji Diouf. Fifteen minutes elapsed before the penalty was taken; Diaz attempted a Panenka and missed, and Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal. Players from both sides were left collapsed on the turf, while Morocco endured the pain of another prolonged wait for the trophy.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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