He is said to have fallen ill in Rabat and was taken to hospital shortly after the final. He reportedly started feeling unwell at halftime. Lamine Kamara was injured just before the end of the first half and was sent off during warm-ups. However, Kamara did not recover, and Sarr fell ill 45 minutes after Crepin Diatta and Ousseynou Niang were forced to withdraw during the warm-up.
In video footage released after the game, Diatta was seen leaning forward among the balls on the pitch during the warm-up, while Niang had to be carried by teammates and helped to the team’s locker room. After the match, coach Kamara confirmed that the aforementioned trio were taken to the hospital, saying, “They are in the hospital, but we hope they are well.”
Senegal’s Tagat newspaper also provided further updates, writing: “Doctors at the Mohammed VI Hospital in Rabat say the three players are in good condition. Ousseinou Niang has returned to his hotel. Crepin Diatta and Pape Matar Sarr remain in hospital for further observation.”
Meanwhile, Niang’s club, Royal Union Saint-Giroise, said he was back with his Senegalese teammates, writing: “Niant felt unwell before the match and was taken to hospital with two teammates. He was later confirmed to be well and has rejoined the Senegalese national team.”
After the match, Senegal full-back Ismail Jacobs launched an astonishing accusation that the illness in the Lions of Teranga camp might not be a coincidence. Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone, he said, “A lot of things happened before the game. I think we’ll find out a lot after the game. It’s not just this situation. A lot of things happened before the game, too. But we’ll find out in time. A lot of things happened at halftime with Crepin, Ousseynou and Pape Matar Sarr.”
Everton midfielder Idrissa Gana-Guye also expressed her condolences to the players who fell ill before the final, saying: “This victory is for them. We had that in mind.”
The final will be remembered for the chaos that occurred after 90 minutes. Senegal’s goal in the 92nd minute was controversially canceled out for a foul, and Morocco were awarded an even more controversial penalty in the 98th minute.
Senegal manager Pape Thiau ordered his players to leave the pitch, and when they returned 17 minutes after the spot-kick was awarded, Brahim Dias tried to take a penalty in the middle, but the ball fell into the arms of former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Senegal won in extra time with a great goal from Pape Gueye.
