Afcon final forced to halt as horror injury leaves player covered in blood

The gruesome injury resulted in the Morocco star being left lying on the ground, covering his face, which was quickly covered in blood.

It came as both players leapt in the air during a corner-kick from the right-hand side.

El Aynaoui's head hit the back of Diouf, resulting in a seven-minute delay.

Both sides' medical teams rushed onto the field.

Diouf appeared to be in better condition, but was still being attended to by staff.

El Aynaoui was back on his feet after medics wrapped a bandage around the wound.

After play resumed, the final descended into chaos as Senegal's entire squad abandoned the pitch in protest in the closing minutes following a contentious late penalty decision in favour of hosts Morocco.

Head coach Pape Thiaw signalled for his players to leave the field after referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded the spot kick to Morocco deep into stoppage time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

The extraordinary scenes saw Senegalese players initially gather near their bench before several walked down the tunnel, refusing to continue the match.

Former Nigeria striker Efan Ekoku, commentating on E4, said: "You cannot do that. However aggrieved you feel at it you have got to let the referee and the rules... I have got some sympathy, but this is not a good look."

The penalty was awarded after Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz went down under a challenge from El Hadji Malick Diouf during a Morocco corner, with the defender appearing to have his hands around the forward's neck as the ball came into the box.

Referee Ndala consulted the VAR monitor before pointing to the spot, a decision that sparked fury among the Senegalese players and staff.

Their anger was compounded by events just minutes earlier, when Ismaïla Sarr had headed home from close range after Idrissa Gueye's effort struck the post, only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul on Achraf Hakimi in the build-up.

Ekoku described the penalty decision as "soft" and added: "To say this was controversial is an understatement."

The delay lasted approximately 17 minutes before the penalty could finally be taken, with goalkeeper Edouard Mendy shown a yellow card as tensions continued to simmer.

Former Nigeria captain Mikel John Obi, speaking on E4, said: "I can understand their frustration. But walking off the pitch is not what I want to see."

Diaz stepped up to take the spot kick but attempted an audacious Panenka, chipping the ball gently down the centre of the goal.

Mendy, however, stood his ground and comfortably gathered the weak effort into his gloves.

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