The match in Rabat erupted into chaos during the eighth minute of added time when officials awarded Morocco a spot-kick, just moments after the Senegalese had seen what looked like a legitimate goal ruled out with the scoreline goalless.

Head coach Pape Thiaw led his squad off the playing surface in protest, bringing proceedings to a halt for approximately 16 minutes.

Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane, who had initially remained on the pitch before eventually joining his teammates in the changing room, ultimately persuaded the players to return and complete the fixture.

Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz stepped up to take the penalty but saw his Panenka effort stopped by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who stood firm in the centre of his goal.

The match then progressed to extra time, where Pape Gueye delivered a stunning strike to seal the trophy for the Teranga Lions.

Speaking afterwards, Mane insisted his nation would have been “crazy” to persist with their walkout and inflict damage on the reputation of African football.

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Speaking on the possibility that the game might be abandoned, he said: “It would have been a shame and sad to see this kind of scenario happen.

“Just imagine for a second going into the locker rooms and the football match stopping there. I think that would convey a negative image of our football. I think Africa today does not deserve that.

“African football has evolved in an incredible way and the proof is that it is followed all over the world.

“So, on my side, I did what I had to do. I think it would be crazy to not play this game because what, the referee gave a penalty and we go out of the game?”

Mane added: “I think that would be the worst thing especially in African football. I’d rather lose than this kind of thing happen to our football.”

Thiaw apologised after the game for taking the Senegal players off the field.

He said: “After reflecting on it, I made them come back (on the pitch) – you can react in the heat of the moment.

“We accept the errors of the referee. We shouldn’t have done it but it’s done and now we present our apologies to football.

Morocco head coach Walid Regragui attacked Thiaw for leading Senegal’s walk-off protest, saying: “The image we’ve given of Africa is shameful.

“A coach who asks his players to leave the field. What Pape did does not honour Africa. Thiaw wasn’t classy.

“But he is a champion, so he can say whatever he wants. We stopped the match in the eyes of the world for 10 minutes.”

The victory marks Senegal’s second continental championship, cementing their status as an elite nation on the African stage in recent years.