RABAT:&nbsp;Senegal stunned Morocco in Sunday&#39;s Africa Cup of Nations final as Pape Gueye&#39;s extra-time goal gave them a 1-0 win over the hosts after a chaotic end to the match marred by the eventual champions storming off the pitch in a lengthy protest following a controversial late penalty award. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco when he stepped up to take the spot-kick in the 24th added minute of added time at the end of the initial 90 minutes, as ugly scenes broke out in the crowd and press box. But Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted &#39;Panenka&#39; chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award. &quot;We gave everything. We didn&#39;t cheat,&quot; match-winner Gueye told French broadcaster M6. &quot;It was a really difficult match, but we were determined to win here. This is a beautiful country, and they have incredible supporters. &quot;Senegal are champions of Africa, and we are so happy.&quot; Congolese match referee Jean-Jacques Ndala gave the penalty right at the end of the allotted eight added minutes following a VAR check for a challenge on Diaz in the box by Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf. Diaz, the rest of the Moroccan team, and their bench vehemently protested to the referee to check the images, but the decision to eventually give the spot-kick was met with fury by Senegal and their fans. As most of their players walked off the pitch, some Senegal supporters in the small section of away fans at the opposite end of the stadium threw chairs and other objects and attempted to get onto the field of play. They were eventually contained by a large barrier of police and stewards, and their anger turned to delight and disbelief when the penalty was saved after the game restarted. The Senegal team had initially been riled by the referee&#39;s decision to disallow for a foul a goal scored by Ismaila Sarr in the second added minute. Gueye the hero&nbsp;After Diaz&#39;s penalty miss, however, it felt almost inevitable that a galvanised Senegal would go on to score, and they did so in the fourth minute of extra time to stun the home fans in the crowd of 66,526 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. Sadio Mane won possession in midfield and found Idrissa Gana Gueye, who released his namesake Pape Gueye. The Villarreal midfielder held off Moroccan captain Achraf Hakimi as he advanced towards the box before beating goalkeeper Yassine Bounou with a superb strike into the top corner, leaving the hosts distraught. They could still have forced a penalty shoot-out, with Nayef Aguerd heading against the crossbar in the second half of extra time. But it was not to be for Morocco, who had been dreaming of winning the title in front of their own fans to end a 50-year wait to become African champions for just the second time. Senegal held on, and it is their second Cup of Nations title in the last three editions, after they defeated Egypt on penalties in Yaounde in 2022 to win the trophy for the very first time. They can now look forward to the World Cup, and will hope to persuade star man Mane to play at another AFCON after he declared that the final would be his last ever game at the tournament. Morocco coach Walid Regragui said, &quot;Congratulations to Senegal, but the image we gave of African football is disappointing, with everything that happened when the penalty was given.&quot; Any investigation into the disgraceful scenes will focus on the conduct of the Senegal team and their fans, as well as any shortcomings by Moroccan organizers. The incidents came at the end of a tense final, low on goalmouth action &mdash; not exactly surprising given the defensive strength of Africa&#39;s best teams according to the FIFA rankings. Senegal&#39;s Iliman Ndiaye was denied by Bounou from the best chance in the first half, while Morocco should have scored just before the hour mark, but Ayoub El Kaabi prodded wide from a Bilal El Khannouss cross. Then came the late drama, with Senegal surviving the penalty award before Gueye became their hero &mdash; remarkably, that was the first goal scored by Senegal in an AFCON final after they had failed to find the net in any of their three previous appearances in the tournament&#39;s deciding game. It was an agonizing way for Morocco&#39;s campaign to end, and many of their fans left the stadium before the final whistle on a cold and wet night in Rabat.

Football

This is Senegal's second Cup of Nations title in the last three editions, following their victory over Egypt on penalties in Yaounde in 2022, which secured the trophy for the first time in their history; any investigation into the disgraceful scenes during the game will focus on the conduct of the Senegal team and their fans as well as any shortcomings by Moroccan organizers; agonizing way for Morocco's campaign to end, and many of their fans had left the stadium before the final whistle on a cold and wet night in Rabat.

Senegal stun hosts Morocco to win AFCON title after final walk-off protest

<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YAOUNDE: Polls opened in Cameroon on Sunday in an election that could see Africa&rsquo;s oldest leader extend his rule by another 7 years. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Around 8 million voters, including over 34,000 overseas, are registered to participate at more than 31,000 polling stations in the Central African nation. Cameroon had over 29 million people in 2024, and like many sub-Saharan African countries, its population is overwhelmingly young. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Polls are expected to close at 6 p.m., and the results are expected at the latest by Oct. 26. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Analysts have predicted a victory for current President Paul Biya, who first became president in 1982 following the resignation of Cameroon&#39;s first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo, and has ruled the country since then. Biya was declared the winner of seven subsequent elections. Cameroon has seen just two leaders since independence in 1960. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;In the face of increasingly difficult international environment, the challenges facing us are more and more pressing,&rdquo; Biya said in announcing another run. &ldquo;In such a situation, I cannot shirk my mission.&rdquo; He did not give details. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If victorious, Biya would be 99 years old by the time his term finishes. His health has routinely been a topic of speculation as he spends most of his time in Europe, leaving day to day governing to key party officials and family members. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biya faces nine opposition candidates, including some former allies and appointees. They include Bello Bouba Maigari, who was minister for tourism, and Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who until recently served as the minister of employment. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At his first campaign rally, held last week in the northern city of Maroua, Biya promised change for one of Cameroon&rsquo;s poorest areas. The predominately Muslim north accounts for nearly 20% of the country&rsquo;s eligible voters, and Maigari and Bakary command strong followings in the Far North. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The country faces escalating security crises. In the western region, a secessionist war is being fought between mainly English-speaking separatists who claim they are marginalized by the French-speaking majority, and government forces. In the north, the Boko Haram insurgency spills over from neighboring Nigeria, with armed groups routinely attacking border towns. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At least 43% of the country&rsquo;s citizens live in poverty as measured by core living standards such as income, education and health, according to UN estimates.

Election officials arrange stacks of ballot papers before the start of voting at a polling station in Garoua, Cameroon, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025.(AP Photo/Welba Yamo Pascal)

Africa

Polls opened in Cameroon on Sunday in an election that could see Africa’s oldest leader extend his rule by another 7 years.

Articles tagged with "Africa"

Senegal stun hosts Morocco to win AFCON title after final walk-off protest

Cameroon votes as President Paul Biya seeks historic eighth term