Mendy says ´football won´ as Senegal return from dressing room protest to win Africa Cup of Nations

Edouard Mendy said football was the winner after Senegal overcame Morocco in a remarkable Africa Cup of Nations final, having earlier left the pitch in protest and refused to play.

Pape Gueye’s stunning strike three minutes into extra-time saw the Lions of Teranga defeat the hosts 1-0 in Rabat and lift the trophy for the second time. But that does not begin to tell the story of a chaotic showpiece match.

After 90 relatively quiet minutes, Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr had a goal disallowed for a foul in the build-up, then El Hadji Malick Diouf was penalised for dragging Brahim Diaz down from a Morocco corner five minutes into stoppage time.

Senegal’s players and staff were outraged by that decision, with head coach Pape Thiaw leading them back to the dressing room in protest while star forward Sadio Mane urged them to play on.

The spot-kick was not taken until the 24th minute of stoppage time, and when it was, Diaz’s awful Panenka was easily caught by Mendy.

And after Pape Gueye settled matters with his left-footed piledriver – the first goal scored by Senegal in their four AFCON final appearances – Mendy said justice had been done.

“We’re not going to talk about things in the heat of the moment, things happened, but in the end, what you have to remember is that football won,” he told BeIN Sports.

“Morocco have been waiting for this trophy for more than 50 years, they had everything in their favour, but we responded in our own way and tonight, Senegal can celebrate.”