Gary Lineker responds to AFCON crowd trouble while at final | Football | Sport

Gary Lineker branded the chaotic scenes during the Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco as “horribly violent”. The dramatic encounter was settled by Papa Gueye’s extra-time strike for Senegal after Morocco’s Brahim Diaz squandered a penalty that would have clinched the trophy with the final kick of normal time.

The Real Madrid attacker, who finished as top scorer at the tournament staged in Morocco, attempted an audacious Panenka penalty only for goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to read it correctly and make the save. The controversial decision to award the penalty provoked fury from the Senegal camp as head coach Pape Thiaw ordered his squad off the field whilst angry fans had to be restrained from storming onto the pitch.

Video footage from the terraces captures a mass of security personnel and police officers combining forces in a bid to prevent spectators from breaching the playing surface. Lineker recorded a clip from the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat having observed the disturbances firsthand.

He stated: “Not quite sure what I’ve just seen. I mean for a start I don’t know why VAR got involved, it’s a stupid thing to do.

“Then it all kicked off, they didn’t look like they were going to play, they went into the tunnel, then they came back out eventually because of Sadio Mane – who was doing the right thing, the right thing.

“(It’s) kicking off in the crowd, the Senegalese fans are obviously deeply upset but it got very horribly violent. Well, he tried a Panenka and I’ve got a bit of history myself but in those circumstances, standing around doing nothing for the 15, 20 minutes, crazy.”

Pape Gueye netted the decisive goal in extra-time to shatter Moroccan dreams. Brahim Diaz was seen weeping on the substitutes’ bench after being withdrawn four minutes following the opening goal, requiring consolation from team-mates after his penalty miss.

The 26 year old showed his emotion whilst collecting his runners-up medal and golden boot for the tournament, accompanied by jeers from spectators who remained in the stadium. Senegal’s victory is their second AFCON title, with the nation reaching the final thanks to victories over Sudan, Mali and Egypt.

Mane hoisted the prestigious trophy whilst wearing the captain’s armband, in what may have been his swansong for Senegal. The Liverpool legend ended their prolonged wait in 2021, converting the decisive penalty against Egypt in Cameroon and contributed significantly throughout the competition towards their triumph.

And he offered little indication of ruling out concluding his international career on a high note. He said: “We know how to play the final.

“A final is meant to be won. I will be very happy to play my last Afcon final, to enjoy it and to make my country win.”