Sadio Mané called his team back for Senegal's win over host Morocco in chaotic Africa Cup final

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Though he didn’t score a goal, Sadio Mané has emerged as the hero for Senegal’s unlikely triumph over host Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday.

“We knew that today it was important to win this trophy. We all had it in our hearts to win it thanks to Sadio, and we saw what he did today, it’s just incredible,” Lamine Camara said.

The game was on the verge of being called off with furious Senegalese supporters trying to storm the field after a controversial penalty call in favor of the home team deep in stoppage time, just minutes after Senegal had what seemed a perfectly good goal ruled out at the other end.

Stewards were fighting with supporters on the field and some of the Senegal players reacted angrily to comments from the Moroccan substitutes, leading to a melee between rival players on the sideline.

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw then led his players off, suggesting the game might be called off before the penalty could be taken. Fighting was continuing at the other end where a long line of police joined the stewards in holding the Senegal fans back.

Veteran French coach Claude Le Roy, who spoke with Mané on the sideline, reportedly told the two-time African Footballer of the Year it was better for the team to resume the game.

Mané evidently agreed as he got his teammates to return for Morocco’s penalty so the game could resume after a 14-minute delay.

"We were in the locker room," Camara said. “He was the only one who came in shouting, shouting at us to get out there and finish the match. And well, in the end, he was right. We went out, we listened to him because if Sadio talks, everyone listens. We listened to him and in the end it went well for us.”

Édouard Mendy, the Senegal goalkeeper, easily saved Brahim Díaz’s weak attempt of a penalty with what was the last kick of the game.

It then went to extra time, where Pape Gueye scored the winner in the fourth minute by letting fly inside the top right corner.

“What we felt was a bit of injustice,” Gueye said. “Before, we thought we should have had a goal and the referee didn’t go to VAR. Sadio told us to come back on and we remobilized. Édouard then made the save, we stayed focused, got the goal and won the game.”

Senegal had gone closer to scoring in the game with Mané a constant menace for the Moroccan defense, setting up chances for teammates. It took three defenders to stop Mané early on, and more to stop his progress before the half time break.

It was up to Mané to lead the side again in the absence of suspended captain Kalidou Koulibaly, who was missing his second final after the defeat to Algeria in the 2019 decider.

The 33-year-old Mané had said after scoring the winner in the semifinal against Egypt that this would be his last Africa Cup tournament. He has played six and now won two. Thiaw has already appealed for him to reverse his decision.

Few fans remained in the 69,500-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium to see Mané lift the trophy, but the small band of Senegal supporters could celebrate, while it also kicked off a jubilant party in Dakar.

AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations

Morocco's Achraf Hakimi, left, and Senegal's Sadio Mane battle for the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Youssef Loulidi)

Senegal's Sadio Mane, front, and Morocco's Nayef Aguerd challenge for the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Senegal's Sadio Mane holds tropy for the best player of the torunament after the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Senegal's Sadio Mane holds the trophy aloft after winning the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match agaisnt Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Third-seeded Coco Gauff had some familiar struggles on serve but had still enough class and power to defeat Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2, 6-3 on Monday in a first-round match at the Australian Open.

Gauff has won two Grand Slam titles but has never gone past the semifinals at Melbourne Park. She was knocked out in the quarterfinals last year.

The American has struggled with double-faults and had 431 in 2025 on the WTA Tour, by far the most of any player. No one else had more than 300. Gauff had six in the first set in the victory over Rakhimova, and only one in the second set.

The 21-year-old Gauff has been reworking her serve for the last several months and practiced some more during a comfort break in the match at Rod Laver Arena with Rakhimova.

Gauff faces left-handed Olga Danilovic in the second round. Danilovic defeated 45-year-old Venus Williams on Sunday in a first-round match, which erased the possibility of the two Americans facing off.

“There's not many (left-handed players) on Tour, but Olga's a great player, she's beat some top players so it's going to be a tough match,” Gauff said.

Aryna Sabalenka is seeded No. 1 in Australia followed by Iga Świątek.

Sofia Kenin's poor recent run at the Australian Open continued as she lost 6-3, 6-2 to fellow-American Peyton Stearns.

Kenin, the No.27 seed, was a shock winner here in 2020, but has since struggled at Melbourne Park losing in the first round for the fifth consecutive time.

Stearns fired 15 aces, for just the one double fault, as she cruised through to the second round in one hour and 14 minutes. She will play Petra Marcinko of Croatia next.

In an early result on the men's side, No. 7 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada retired in his match with Nuno Borges of Portugal. Borges led 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 after just over two hours when the 25-year-old walked to the net to shake hands. The Canadian seemed to struggle with a leg injury through the match.

Sofia Kenin of the U.S. plays a forehand return to compatriot Peyton Stearnsduring their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada walks from the court after he retired in his first round match against Nuno Borges of Portugal at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Coco Gauff of the U.S. plays a backhand return to Kamilla Rakhimova of Uzbekistan during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Coco Gauff of the U.S. plays a forehand return to Kamilla Rakhimova of Uzbekistan during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Coco Gauff of the U.S. serves to Kamilla Rakhimova of Uzbekistan during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)