Moroccan fans walked out of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in the capital Rabat in utmost despair as Senegal stunned the hosts in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final in an extra-time thriller.
Many of the Atlas Lions’ supporters had already begun leaving the stands before the final whistle on a cold and wet night in Rabat.
“We cried in the final against Tunisia in 2004, and tonight the same scenario repeats itself. That’s very hard to take,” said Ismail Korradj, 30, speaking moments after the final whistle.
At a cafe in central Rabat festooned with Moroccan flags, the loss came as a major blow.
Still, Morocco “lost with their heads held high”, said Laila Bourezma, 32. “The defeat leaves us with bitterness, but our players gave everything.”
Oumaima Boukrab, 34, said Morocco “showed beautiful football throughout the tournament”, adding: “The players were excellent. We salute them, and we’re proud of them.”
The North African team were touching distance away from ending a 50-year curse and lifting the cup when they were awarded a controversial last-gasp penalty.
But Senegal’s Edouard Mendy easily saved an audacious Panenka chip by Brahim Diaz, following a lengthy protest by the Senegalese contingent against the penalty decision that led the game to be paused for nearly 20 minutes after the players walked off the pitch.
Four minutes into extra-time, Senegal scored the game’s sole goal and stunned the home fans, stripping Morocco of its hopes of winning the tournament for the first time since 1976.
– ‘Two African countries that won’ –
Senegalese supporters gathered by the stadium after the game ended to celebrate their feat — a second along with a title in 2021.
“We won, but Morocco is always with us, so it’s two African countries that won,” said 42-year-old Senegalese supporter Abdoul who did not state his last name.
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