Senegal were crowned Africa Cup of Nations champions for a second time after a tense and dramatic final against hosts Morocco, a match that will be remembered as much for its controversy as for the resilience and composure shown by the eventual winners.

The decisive encounter was overshadowed late on when Senegal’s players briefly refused to continue play after Morocco were awarded a highly contentious stoppage-time penalty with the score still level at 0-0. The incident unfolded in the 98th minute, prompting a heated reaction from the Senegalese bench and players on the pitch.

Head coach Pape Thiaw attempted to usher his team off the field in protest after referee Jean Jacques Ndala pointed to the spot, ruling that defender El Hadji Malick Diouf had brought down Brahim Diaz inside the penalty area. The decision was confirmed following a VAR review, intensifying Senegal’s frustration at a critical moment of the final.

When play eventually resumed, Real Madrid forward Diaz stepped up to take the penalty, attempting an audacious panenka. However, the effort was brilliantly saved, lifting Senegal and restoring belief among the players and supporters after a chaotic few minutes.

Thiaw, 44, was visibly irritated not only by the penalty decision but also by the earlier disallowing of a Senegal goal moments before the spot-kick was awarded. Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr had appeared to give Senegal the lead from close range, only for the goal to be ruled out after a foul by Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi in the build-up.

As tensions rose, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy briefly made his way toward the dressing room, before returning to the pitch following encouragement from captain Sadio Mane, who played a key leadership role in urging his team-mates to remain focused and see out the match.

Referee Ndala brought the 90 minutes to an end immediately after the penalty drama, sending the final into extra time. Senegal carried their momentum forward and were rewarded early, with Pape Gueye breaking the deadlock just four minutes into extra time to give his side a crucial lead.

Manchester City have agreed a £20m deal to sign Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, with the England centre-back expected to complete a move to the Premier League champions later this month.

City opened talks with the 25-year-old defender earlier this month after suffering injuries to key centre-backs Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias. Negotiations have accelerated over the past 24 hours, and an agreement was reached on Thursday night between City and Palace.

Guehi, who is out of contract this summer, has been linked with several leading European clubs and was close to joining Liverpool during last summer’s transfer window.

City have already been active in the current transfer window, completing the £62.5m signing of forward Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth as Pep Guardiola’s side strengthen their squad for the remainder of the season.

The development of Guehi’s move came as Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed that he will leave the club when his contract expires in June. The Austrian coach said Guehi’s potential transfer had “zero impact” on his decision, explaining that he had already made up his mind months earlier.

Glasner added that he had informed Palace chairman Steve Parish in October that he would not be signing a new contract. However, the agreement to sell Guehi is believed to have prompted the timing of Glasner’s public confirmation of his planned departure.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is not seeking a move away from Old Trafford during the January transfer window, despite recent upheaval at the club and widespread speculation about his future.

Reports in recent days had suggested the Portugal international was reassessing his position following the dismissal of head coach Ruben Amorim, a decision that triggered significant change behind the scenes at United. Fernandes’ meeting with one of Amorim’s coaches, Carlos Fernandes, shortly after the sacking further fuelled concerns among supporters that the 31-year-old might be considering an exit.

However, sources with a clear understanding of the situation have indicated that Fernandes remains committed to Manchester United and has no intention of forcing a move this month. While the club has experienced instability, including Darren Fletcher’s brief two-game spell as interim manager before Michael Carrick was appointed caretaker for the remainder of the season, Fernandes is said to be focused on helping the team through the transition.

It has long been Fernandes’ plan to reassess his future in the summer rather than during the current campaign. By that point, he will be entering the final year of his contract, a natural moment for both player and club to take stock and consider their long-term direction in a more settled environment.

Last summer, Fernandes turned down a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, underlining his desire to continue competing at the highest level. Although interest from the Saudi Pro League remains strong, any potential move away from United would likely see him prioritise staying in European football.

The former Sporting midfielder has spoken candidly about feeling “hurt” by learning that United had been open to selling him, particularly as he believed head coach Amorim wanted him to remain at the club. Fernandes suggested that senior officials lacked the courage to discuss the situation with him directly, adding a personal dimension to the speculation surrounding his future.

Nevertheless, those close to the player stress that Fernandes’ immediate focus is on his responsibilities as captain and on guiding United through a challenging period.