Pape Gueye the hero as Senegal win Africa Cup of Nations, Brahim Diaz misses | OneFootball

Pape Gueye was Senegal’s matchwinner, his extra-time strike sealing a 1-0 victory over Morocco in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final after Brahim Diaz missed a stoppage-time penalty.

L'Équipe’s player ratings underlined the contrast, praising Yassine Bounou’s display and criticising Diaz for a failed panenka at 90+24.

Lamine Camara could have delivered an assist from a fine corner on five minutes, though he was booked on 24 and later wasted a break at 45+4. Bounou kept out Iliman Ndiaye on 38 minutes.

After the interval Ayoub El-Kaabi missed from close range on 58 minutes, and Mamadou Sarr produced a superb block to deny the striker on 62. Camara was replaced by Ismaïla Sarr on 77, and Édouard Mendy was alert to Abde Ezzalzouli on 81.

In an extended period of stoppage time, Diaz tried a panenka at 90+24 but Mendy stood firm to save. The goalkeeper had been cautioned during the lengthy delay.

Gueye finally broke through on 94 minutes, surging 30 metres before thumping in a powerful strike.

Mendy was alert to Diaz on 97, Youssef En-Nesyri shot off target on 104 and Nayef Aguerd’s header struck the bar on 108. Bounou later saved from Cherif Ndiaye on 111.

Sarr excelled at the back in place of suspended captain Kalidou Koulibaly. Antoine Mendy struggled after Krépin Diatta’s late withdrawal, while Ismael Saibari and El-Kaabi were short of their usual sharpness.

Source: L'Équipe