The Senegal team deservedly became the champions of the Africa Cup of Nations, showing character after a controversial penalty. This opinion was expressed by the former coach of the Cameroon national team Valery Nepomnyashchiy.
The Senegalese team beat the Moroccan team in extra time with the score of 1:0 in the final match of the tournament.
“You know, I agree that there was a refereeing error in awarding a penalty against the Senegal team. I was surprised that the coach managed to return the team to the field, because usually emotions take over. As a result, in such an interesting and difficult fight, they still became champions,” Nepomniachtchi said.
“The Senegal team deservedly won the battle, because the most fair thing in football is the score. This surprised me: I thought they wouldn’t be able to reunite after what happened, but they came back and fate rewarded them for it,” he added.
In added time in the second half, after a video review, the Senegalese players’ goal was disallowed. Then, after a video review, a penalty was awarded against the Senegalese team. The coach of the Senegalese national team Pap Tyaw removed the team’s players from the pitch in protest. After 15 minutes, the Senegalese returned, and the team’s goalkeeper Edouard Mendy firmly captured the ball after an 11-meter shot from Brahim Diaz. Regular time ended with the score 0:0. In extra time, Papa Gueye’s goal gave the Senegalese victory.
The Senegalese team won the Africa Cup of Nations for the second time. The Senegalese won for the first time in 2021.