Gueye and Ndiaye to return home as AFCoN champions
Idrissa Gana Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye both started for Senegal as the Lions of Tarenga won a chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco in Rabat this evening.
The game was heading for a goalless conclusion and extra-time when Senegal had a goal disallowed in controversial fashion at one end before, moments later, the hosts were awarded a soft penalty at the other, decisions that sparked outrage among the Senegalese players.
At one stage, the Senegal team left the pitch in protest, refusing to play on but they were eventually led back out by captain Sadio Mané and play resumed with Morocco's penalty.
In a dramatic turn of events, Brahim Diaz attempted a weak "Panenka" which was easily saved by Edouard Mendy sending the match into extra-time.
Five minutes into the added 30, Gana Gueye slipped a pass to his namesake Pape Gueye who advanced towards the opposition box before unleashing a rocket that flew into the net.
That proved to be the decider and Senegal lifted the trophy for the second time in four years.
Gana and Ndiaye will now return to Merseyside to prepare for Everton's home clash with Leeds United in eight day's time, although the former was visibly limping towards the end of extra-time and may not be immedately available.
Reader Responses
Selected thoughts from readers19/01/2026 10:53:00
A huge shoutout of congratulations to our two Senegalese players and their Heroic Team, who lifted the AFCON Cup.
Staring defeat in the face, after having a perfect goal ruled out, it would have been a travesty, had Morocco scored that Penalty
Also, let’s not forget O ‘Briens perfect Goal that was ruled out.
PigMole have a lot to answer for, concerning our Club.
19/01/2026 16:59:11
Paul (21)
Sorry mate I have to disagree with you re the Senegal team. 'Heroic' don't think so, thought they were an absolute disgrace to the game. Whether or not you agreed or disagreed about the merits of the penalty decision, their decision to walk off the pitch in protest was disgraceful.
I thought I was watching a Sunday league game. They not only crowded around the referee like they were going to lynch him, but then decided to push him in the back when he went to the VAR screen.
I would ban them from the next Afcon tournament. But I doubt Fifa will give them more than a slap on the wrist.
Nothing heroic about their behaviour, whether they included Everton players or not
19/01/2026 18:34:42
Steve 27
I’m not disagreeing that it wasn’t a penalty.
I also thought that the actions to walk off, were emotions running high, in the heat of the moment.
Compared to our goal that was unfairly ruled out, the dynamics were on another level.
This was no Ordinary match.
It was a highly charged prestigious final, that almost all African players aspire to.
How would you feel if it was an Everton team that protested?.. after being robbed!
Myself, I would have agreed with it, given the context of the game.
And yes they were robbed as for the disallowed goal, in the passage of play leading up to it, the player that went down, was the player who made the push on the opposing player.
After the emotional scenes, disgraceful, as they may be referred to, the penalty taker, tried to rub it in, in true unsportsmanlike fashion, and total disrespect, he tried to make an ass of the Keeper, with a failed pathetic Panenka.
He ended the Debacle looking like a complete Gobshite!
Of course, he could have worked the narrative ( to save face), by saying, that in true sportsmanship fashion, he simply passed the ball back to the Keeper.
But this excuse, vis-à-vis his fellow Teammates and Nationals, would have made him look like a Total Gobshite!
Ok! Two wrongs don’t make a right, but in hindsight, I personally think that justice was meted out.
Now, as for the Match Officials performance.. well, that’s another matter.
19/01/2026 19:59:51
Everyone just keep taking these absolutely horrendous decisions which border on corruption, because the alternative is a disgrace to the game?
I obviously agree with Paul, rather than Steve, and believe that once you start getting the two separate decisions in two minutes, that both went against Senegal, towards the end of last night’s game, then football has already lost and that’s why I could personally understand the actions of the Senegal coach, who obviously felt that his team had been cheated.
24/01/2026 03:48:55
I still hope that there is a world where Senegal will be severely punished - up to and including being stripped of the title - for their disgraceful and disgusting cheating and gamesmanship. I'm ashamed that veteran Gana and Ndiaye were involved and that it took red shite to get them back on the pitch that Gana should never have left.
I wish that the ref had been able to blow for full-time with the Senegalese cheats gesticulating in a hurt and unseeing way from the sideline, tunnel, and dressing room,
I hope against hope that Gana and Ndiaye will not be celebrated on Monday.
Message from Everton FC: it's perfectly proper to walk off the pitch if you don't like a ref's or VAR decisions.
Come on Anthony. Two shocking decisions wtihin minutes. There are alternatives. There are people who like you know their footy who believe that there was a foul for the first call. There was a clear push on Hakimi in the box. Hand on the neck for the penalty, soft, seen them given. Both decisions were controversial but no where near as clear cut as Anthony suggests.
Football had 'already lost'? Come on Anthony. If football was ever lost it was when the Senegalese shamefully trooped off the pitch. 'Heroic team', Paul Conway. Get a grip. What utter Conwayballs. So, you'd advise an eight-year-old to get off the pitch if he doesn't agree with the ref's decision, however controversial.
That, Anthony, is when football dies.
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19/01/2026 07:27:06
Congratulations to them both, now they have become the Champions of Africa.