SOCCER: Senegal fans dance in the streets after Africa Cup of Nations win

DAKAR — Senegalese football fans celebrated into the early hours of Monday after their national team secured their second Africa Cup of Nations title in the last three editions.

Supporters set off fireworks and danced in the streets of Dakar following Senegal’s dramatic 1-0 victory over Morocco in extra time. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye declared Monday a national holiday, as crowds flooded traffic roundabouts throughout the seaside capital.

The match was filled with controversy when Senegal coach Pape Bouna Thiaw ordered his players off the field after Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded a late penalty to hosts Morocco. The delay lasted 14 minutes before Sadio Mane persuaded his teammates to return to the pitch.

Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy then saved Morocco star Brahim Diaz’s Panenka-style penalty kick, while midfielder Pape Gueye scored the winning goal in the 94th minute.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui later criticized Thiaw’s actions, calling them “not classy.” But many Senegalese fans defended the coach’s decision, saying the team had been unfairly treated throughout the tournament.

“This Africa Cup was full of cheating. They cheated until the end of the match but we were going to win,” said fan Mohamed Diop. “Stealing and creating a scenario as if it were a Netflix series is crazy. An Africa Cup is not a Netflix series.”

Other fans praised Sadio Mane, who has announced that this tournament would be his last Africa Cup of Nations.

“There was too much cheating, but when Sadio Mane did not accept that our players leave the competition, that really helped Senegal,” said Idrissa Diallo. “We would have had problems if we had left.”

The controversy continued after the match when Thiaw’s post-match press conference was canceled after he was jeered by Moroccan journalists while Senegalese reporters applauded him.

Back in Senegal, President Faye praised the team in a message posted on X.

“By presenting them with the national flag, we entrusted them with a mission,” he said. “They accomplished it brilliantly, at the end of an epic match, raising the colors of Senegal to the pinnacle of African football.” -Reporting by Ngouda Dione; Additional reporting by Bate Felix; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters