Pape Gueye's stunner in extra time secured Senegal a second Africa Cup of Nations success after a controversial 1-0 victory over Morocco, which included Senegal players leaving the pitch in protest and Brahim Diaz missing a last-gasp penalty to win it in normal time.
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw had taken his players off the field following the decision to award Morocco a penalty in the 98th minute. He had already been angered by referee Jean-Jacques Ndala ruling out an Ismaila Sarr header moments earlier.
Chaos ensued at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat with no one knowing how the match was going to end as Senegal temporarily refused to finish the game.
With the clock still running, and after some encouragement from Sadio Mane, the Senegal players re-emerged in the 20th minute of stoppage time - but incredibly, Diaz, who was the tournament's leading scorer with five goals, saw his weakly attempted Panenka penalty saved by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy as Morocco spurned the chance of a first continental title in 50 years.
It sent the final to extra time and Thiaw's men, fuelled by a sense of injustice, regrouped and forced their way in front when Gueye surged forward and blasted a left-foot piledriver past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and into the top corner.
Kalidou Koulibaly, who was suspended for the final but celebrated with his team in full kit, was given the Africa Cup of Nations trophy by FIFA president Gianni Infantino but handed it to Mane, who fittingly lifted it in what could have been his final appearance for Senegal at AFCON.
Substitute Sarr thought he had won a tight final for Senegal in stoppage time but referee Ndala ruled out his header for a foul by Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi.
The drama continued into the last minute of the scheduled eight minutes of added time when, having been advised to review Malick Diouf's challenge on Diaz, the referee pointed to the spot, prompting a furious Thiaw to send most of his players to the dressing room.
Senegal eventually returned and, after Diaz's sensational slip-up from the spot, Gueye struck four minutes into added time. Bounou went on to deny Cherif Ndiaye a second with a stunning double save, but Gueye's contribution ultimately proved decisive for Senegal.
When his team-mates returned to the dressing room, it was notable that Sadio Mane was the player who stayed out.
He was the one who appeared to get the Senegal players back out onto the pitch so that the game could finish.
The former Liverpool forward also went over to the Senegal fans at full-time to calm them down as trouble threatened to escalate at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
"He went back to the dressing room and brought those players back," former Morocco international Hassan Kachloul said on E4.
"That shows the great man he is.
"African football was losing and world football was losing. Sadio Mane was the man to bring them back on."
While it was joy for Senegal it was despair for Morocco - and in particular Brahim Diaz.
One of the stars of the tournament with five goals and finishing as the top scorer, his AFCON will now be remembered for that Panenka penalty miss.
Described on social media as a candiate for the worst penalty in football history, Diaz was left visibly shocked and he had tears in his eyes as he finished the game on the bench.
It will be a moment he will replay in his mind over and over again in the coming weeks.
"To do that it spoils everything Brahim Diaz has done well in this tournament," former Nigeria captain John Obi Mike said on E4.
"He is going to be devastated. This is going to be tough on him, for weeks, for months."
Kachoul added: "I think Brahim Diaz is going to have a lot of nightmares in the coming days, but that is part of football life.
"Diaz must have changed his mind a few times before kicking that ball. Unfortunately for Morocco, they paid the price."
Diaz has apologised for his penalty miss in the final against Senegal, stating his "soul aches" and he will work tirelessly to repair the relationship with Moroccan supporters.
Writing on his X account, Diaz said: "My soul aches. I dreamed of this title thanks to all the love you gave me, for every message, for every show of support that made me feel I wasn't alone.
"I fought with everything I had, with my heart first and foremost. I failed yesterday, and I take full responsibility and apologise from the bottom of my heart. It will be difficult for me to get up, because this wound doesn't heal easily, but I will try.
"Not for myself, but for everyone who believed in me, and for everyone who suffered with me. I will keep going until one day I can repay all this love and be a source of pride for the Moroccan people."
