Mané called his team back for Senegal’s win over host Morocco in chaotic final

Senegal’s Sadio Mane holds the trophy aloft after winning the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match agaisnt Morocco, in Rabat [AP Photo]

Though he didn’t score a goal, Sadio Mané has emerged as the hero for Senegal’s unlikely triumph over host Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final yesterday [Macau time].

“We knew that today it was important to win this trophy. We all had it in our hearts to win it thanks to Sadio, and we saw what he did today, it’s just incredible,” Lamine Camara said.

The game was on the verge of being called off with furious Senegalese supporters trying to storm the field after a controversial penalty call in favor of the home team deep in stoppage time, just minutes after Senegal had what seemed a perfectly good goal ruled out at the other end.

Stewards were fighting with supporters on the field and some of the Senegal players reacted angrily to comments from the Moroccan substitutes, leading to a melee between rival players on the sideline.

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw then led his players off, suggesting the game might be called off before the penalty could be taken. Fighting was continuing at the other end where a long line of police joined the stewards in holding the Senegal fans back.

Veteran French coach Claude Le Roy, who spoke with Mané on the sideline, reportedly told the two-time African Footballer of the Year it was better for the team to resume the game.

Mané evidently agreed as he got his teammates to return for Morocco’s penalty so the game could resume after a 14-minute delay.

“We were in the locker room,” Camara said. “He was the only one who came in shouting, shouting at us to get out there and finish the match. And well, in the end, he was right. We went out, we listened to him because if Sadio talks, everyone listens. We listened to him and in the end it went well for us.”

Édouard Mendy, the Senegal goalkeeper, easily saved Brahim Díaz’s weak attempt of a penalty with what was the last kick of the game.

It then went to extra time, where Pape Gueye scored the winner in the fourth minute by letting fly inside the top right corner.

“What we felt was a bit of injustice,” Gueye said. “Before, we thought we should have had a goal and the referee didn’t go to VAR. Sadio told us to come back on and we remobilized. Édouard then made the save, we stayed focused, got the goal and won the game.”

Senegal had gone closer to scoring in the game with Mané a constant menace for the Moroccan defense, setting up chances for teammates. It took three defenders to stop Mané early on, and more to stop his progress before the half time break.

It was up to Mané to lead the side again in the absence of suspended captain Kalidou Koulibaly, who was missing his second final after the defeat to Algeria in the 2019 decider.

The 33-year-old Mané had said after scoring the winner in the semifinal against Egypt that this would be his last Africa Cup tournament. He has played six and now won two. Thiaw has already appealed for him to reverse his decision.

Few fans remained in the 69,500-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium to see Mané lift the trophy, but the small band of Senegal supporters could celebrate, while it also kicked off a jubilant party in Dakar. CIARÁN FAHEY, RABAT, MDT/AP