Watch: Sadio Mane calls back Senegal team-mates amid AFCON final walk off and penalty protest | OneFootball

Senegal forward has said this will be his final AFCON

Sadio Mane proved his class ahead of bowing out of the Africa Cup of Nations as a champion.

Mane got his wish on Sunday evening as Pape Gueye’s stunning extra-time goal earned Senegal their second AFCON title in what was an extraordinary final in Rabat.

In a wonderful gesture from Kalidou Koulibaly, the Lions of Teranga captain who was suspended for the final, he allowed Mane to lift the AFCON trophy as captain.

Sadio Mane lifts Senegal’s second AFCON title

AFP via Getty Images

However, there was a brief moment at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium where a trophy lift for Senegal seemed highly unlikely.

In fact, the final descended into chaos in the final moments of stoppage time in normal time when Senegal coach Pape Thiaw ordered his players off the pitch after referee Jean Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty following a VAR review.

This decision occurred just a few minutes after Senegal were denied a goal for a foul by Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi.

While the majority of the Senegal players followed Thiaw’s instructions and walked off the pitch, heading back to the changing room in protest, Mane and a few others remained.

Footage has since emerged of Mane playing a key role in calling his team-mates back to the pitch so that the penalty could be taken.

Ultimately, Brahim Diaz - adjudged to have been fouled by West Ham’s El Hadji Malick Diouf - wasted the glorious, if controversial, opportunity to win it for the hosts when he directed his panenka penalty attempt straight at Edouard Mendy.

That sent the tie into extra-time where Gueye won it for Senegal, though a final that has been overshadowed by the penalty protest should also shine a light on Mane’s professionalism.