The 52nd edition of the Senegal football cup final took place this Saturday in Dakar, resulting in a victory for Diaraf of Dakar after a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in regular time.
Casa Sport de Ziguinchor initially took the lead in the 55th minute with a goal from Ibrahima Dramé. However, Diaraf responded ten minutes later in the 65th minute when Pape Diallo, the midfielder, equalized, maintaining the 1-1 score until the end of regular time.
The subsequent extra time of two periods of 15 minutes did not alter the situation, leading to a penalty shootout. Diaraf of Dakar emerged victorious, scoring 3 out of 5 attempts, while Casa Sport managed only one successful shot out of four. The Diaraf goalkeeper, standing in for international goalkeeper Khadim Ndiaye, made crucial saves.
Cheikh Thioub, hailed as the hero of the match, played a significant role in Diaraf Dakar securing its 13th Senegal Cup, making it the most successful Senegalese club in the cup.
The victory also comes with a prize of 10 million FCFA and qualification for the CAF Cup in the next season. Unfortunately, Casa Sport, aiming for a historic double after winning the league cup, fell short in this final.
The final, initially scheduled to be attended by the Head of State, experienced a change in plans without any explanation. The match marked the conclusion of the football season in Senegal, with the next season set to resume in two months.
