Senegal are Africa Cup of Nations champions after a 1-0 win against Morocco in a chaotic final in Rabat.
Pape Gueye scored the only goal of the game with a thumping strike into the top corner in extra time.
There were unprecedented scenes in second-half stoppage time as Brahim Diaz missed a controversial penalty, awarded on VAR review after he was judged to have been fouled by El Hadji Malick Diouf.
Senegal players left the field in protest at that decision and after a premature decision ensured VAR could not intervene when Ismaila Sarr thought he had given his side the lead moments before.
Fans broke through hoardings in the stands in the wake of the penalty decision in the ninth minute of added time.
It feels like the dust is finally settling on a match that started almost four hours ago.
For 90 minutes, it was an enjoyable game of football that went off without major drama and lacked quality in front of goal. Then we saw drama unlike any game I can remember.
A really poor refereeing decision given so prematurely that it stopped VAR intervening and then a decision, made with VAR intervention, that was equally dismal.
Players left the pitch in protest and, when they returned, one of the worst penalties ever taken was saved by Edouard Mendy. And, in extra time, Pape Gueye decided the destination of the trophy with a sensational strike.
Unrivalled drama, but also a night that didn’t paint African football in a strong light.
It felt, after those ugly scenes following the penalty decision, that it would be an injustice to the quality of the match up to that point if it was not decided on footballing merit.
The decision to disallow Sarr’s goal for Senegal was soft. The VAR call to give Morocco a penalty bordered on outrageous.
Justice was done to keep the game at 0-0 when Brahim missed. And Senegal won with a very good goal indeed.
