STEVEN PHIRI
Lusaka
MOROCCO will have to wait for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON) to end their 50-year title drought after Senegal stunned them 1-0 in the final in Rabat.
The match was characterised with drama after Morocco were awarded a penalty in added time.
The Senegalese protested the decision and walked to the dressing room.
It took veteran striker Sadio Mane to convince his teammates to return to the pitch.
The protest lasted 20 minutes.
When calm returned, Morocco striker Brahim Diaz missed a penalty.
Diaz’s panenka was saved by goalkeeper Eduardo Mendy.
Prior to the final, Diaz of Spanish side Real Madrid had scored five goals.
Senegal scored the winner through Pape Gueye’s thunderbolt from outside the box.
Senegal won their first AfCON title in 2021 in Cameroon while Morocco triumphed in 1976.
The 2027 AfCON will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
