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Senegal claimed their second Africa Cup of Nations title on Sunday night, but the victory came through one of the most chaotic and controversial finals the tournament has ever seen. A match that had been tense, open, and well played for 90 minutes descended into stoppage time pandemonium, with players walking off the field, fans attempting to storm the pitch, and a 17 minute delay before a penalty that ultimately swung the tournament.

The flashpoint arrived deep into added time. Moments after Ismaïla Sarr appeared to score a 93rd minute winner that was ruled out when the referee blew early for a soft foul, VAR intervened at the other end. El Hadji Malick Diouf was judged to have fouled Brahim Díaz at a Morocco corner, a decision that infuriated Senegal’s bench and players. Ordered by coach Pape Thiaw, nearly the entire Senegal team walked off the pitch in protest, leaving only Sadio Mané behind as stewards, police, and riot shields were brought in to contain the crowd.

After a 14 minute standoff, Mané led his teammates back out to resume the match. Brahim Díaz, forced to wait nearly 17 minutes to take the kick, attempted a panenka under immense pressure. Édouard Mendy read it easily and caught the tame effort, preserving a goalless draw at the end of normal time and flipping the momentum sharply in Senegal’s favor.

From my view, the referee ultimately reached the correct decisions in both decisive moments, even if they were deeply unpopular. Perhaps neither incident is called ten years ago, but in the era of video review these types of contacts are increasingly punished. In both the disallowed Senegal goal and the late penalty for Morocco, the contact was exaggerated, but there was enough there to justify a foul. What cannot be justified is the reaction that followed. Walking off the pitch in a final, in protest of a judgement call, crosses a line that should never be crossed. Pape Thiaw later acknowledged as much, taking responsibility for ordering his players to leave and apologizing “for the sake of football,” admitting simply, “We accept the referee’s mistakes. We shouldn’t have done it.”

In extra time, resolution arrived quickly. In the 94th minute, Pape Gueye stepped into space at the edge of the box and thundered a left footed strike off the crossbar and in, silencing the Rabat crowd and giving Senegal a 1–0 lead they would not relinquish. After everything that preceded it, the winning goal was emphatic, clean, and decisive.

Mané, captaining the side in the absence of Kalidou Koulibaly, did not score, but he was the emotional center of Senegal’s triumph. He was the one who dragged the team out of the locker room, the one whose voice restored order, and the one who lifted the trophy in front of a half empty stadium. For a player who has now won two AFCON titles and signaled this may be his final continental tournament, it was a fitting, if turbulent, farewell chapter.

The aftermath will linger for reasons far beyond a single decision. Senegal’s federation has already raised serious concerns about security after a chaotic arrival in Rabat that left players and staff swarmed by fans, short of tickets, and training at Morocco’s own base rather than a neutral site. CAF now faces pressure to examine how hosts protect visiting teams and manage the operating environment around a final. And in a fitting detail from a night of disorder, one of Senegal’s unlikely heroes never entered the match at all. Second choice goalkeeper Yéhvann Diouf spent much of the evening physically guarding Édouard Mendy’s towels from ball boys and opponents, an act supporters now celebrate as symbolic of a team that had to protect itself in every possible way. Senegal are champions again, but this final will be remembered as much for its surrounding chaos as for its football, a night where resilience triumphed amid a setting that too often failed the game.

Managerial uncertainty continues to spread across the Premier League, and now Crystal Palace and Tottenham find themselves at the center of the storm. After months of speculation around Xabi Alonso, Ruben Amorim, and Enzo Maresca, the focus has shifted to Oliver Glasner and Thomas Frank, two managers facing pressure from very different directions but with the same familiar end point in sight.

At Palace, the crisis has become internal and public. The decision to sell Marc Guehi to Manchester City on the eve of a match pushed Glasner to the edge, prompting him to announce that he will leave at the end of the season and then accuse the club of abandoning his squad after defeat at Sunderland. His frustration is understandable given the thin group he is working with, but comments of that nature rarely lead to a stable ending. Even after talks over the weekend cooled tempers, it is difficult to see how manager and hierarchy coexist peacefully until May.

At Tottenham, the pressure is more visible and more immediate. Thomas Frank remains in charge for Tuesday’s Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund, but Saturday’s defeat to West Ham pushed the atmosphere into open revolt. Chants of “sacked in the morning,” boos at full time, and reports of confrontations in the stands underline how toxic the situation has become, even as the club insists this is a long term rebuild.

Frank continues to speak of a supertanker turning in the right direction, and there are reasons to believe Tottenham are in a genuine transition phase. But football rarely grants patience when results fail and crowds turn hostile. With Palace fractured from within and Spurs cracking from without, the carousel keeps spinning, and two more managers appear to be running out of road.

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Manchester United earned a derby win over Manchester City, 2-0, and did it the hard way by defending with discipline and limiting City to one shot on target. Lisandro Martinez, in particular, delivered the type of performance that defines these games, standing up to Erling Haaland and helping set the tone for a clean sheet in a match that demanded both personality and composure.

And yet the post match conversation has drifted away from the football and toward the commentary ecosystem around it. Ahead of kickoff, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt mocked Martinez on a podcast, framing the matchup as inevitable physical humiliation. After Martinez won the duel, he did not posture about motivation or revenge. He simply called out the performative nature of it all, noting that people will say anything on television or a microphone, but rarely keep that same energy face to face. He even invited Scholes to his house to talk.

This is the piece punditry sometimes forgets. Players hear it. Players read it. They are not operating in a vacuum, and when analysis becomes content and content becomes mockery, it stops being insight and starts being theater. Martinez’s point was not that ex players should never criticize. It was that credibility comes from intent and from accountability, not from cheap lines built for clips.

Scholes responded on social media with a light jab about tea and sugar, which will play well online but misses the bigger issue. United’s win should have been the headline. Instead, it became another example of how modern football conversation can turn a sharp performance into a side plot, while the loudest voices chase the next viral moment.

Sporting Kansas City Sold at Record Valuation
The Illig family has agreed to sell a 71 percent stake in Sporting Kansas City at an enterprise value of roughly $700 million, the highest valuation yet for a majority stake in MLS. The buyer is existing partner Peter Mallouk, who will control about 80 percent of the club while the Illigs remain in governance roles for now. Mallouk has already signaled a major increase in spending, saying winning will be the overwhelming priority as the league enters its 31st season.

Inter Miami Chase Berterame and Land Record Sponsorship
Inter Miami are in advanced talks to sign Mexico international Germán Berterame from Monterrey in a deal worth around $15 million, which would make him the club’s third designated player alongside Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul. The move would force roster reshuffling before opening weekend, while also underscoring Miami’s ambition as they pursue a forward likely headed to the 2026 World Cup. Off the field, the club also announced the richest sleeve sponsorship in MLS history with Lowe’s, a multi year deal that reflects Miami’s soaring commercial value in the Messi era.

Josh Sargent Exiled at Norwich After Toronto Push
U.S. striker Josh Sargent is training with Norwich City’s under 21s after attempting to force a move to Toronto FC, including making himself unavailable for an FA Cup match. Toronto has bid $18 million, but Norwich insist he is not for sale as they fight relegation, and manager Philippe Clement called Sargent’s actions unacceptable. For now, his return to the first team depends entirely on how he responds to the standoff.

NYCFC Loans Mitja Ilenič to Polish Club
New York City FC have loaned Slovenian defender Mitja Ilenič to Polish Ekstraklasa side Raków Częstochowa through December 2026, giving the 21-year-old the chance to return to Europe and gain more playing time. Ilenič, who made 75 appearances for NYCFC since 2023 with three goals and five assists, said he is grateful for his time in New York and looks forward to his next challenge as the club builds toward the 2026 MLS season.

Real Salt Lake Signs Lukas Engel from Middlesbrough
Real Salt Lake have acquired Danish defender Lukas Engel from Middlesbrough on a permanent deal, signing the 27-year-old through December 2028 with an option for the 2028-29 MLS season. Engel, a former Denmark youth international who spent last season on loan at FC Cincinnati, adds experience and versatility to RSL’s back line as they build toward the 2026 campaign.

Denise O’Sullivan Transfers to Liverpool
North Carolina Courage captain and all-time appearance leader Denise O’Sullivan has completed a permanent move to Liverpool FC Women in the English Women’s Super League, ending a nearly nine-year run with the NWSL club. O’Sullivan, a Republic of Ireland international with more than 120 caps, leaves as a club legend after winning multiple Shields, Championships, and Challenge Cups, and says returning closer to home with family factored into her decision.

Katie McCabe Drawing Interest from NWSL Clubs
Arsenal and Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe is attracting interest from multiple NWSL sides as her contract situation becomes a key decision point with her current deal expiring this summer. NWSL clubs have monitored McCabe for more than 18 months, and with the new High Impact Player rule potentially reshaping roster strategies, her future could involve a move across the Atlantic if terms align. McCabe remains focused on finishing the season strongly with Arsenal even as speculation grows about where she will play next.

Rose Lavelle Named 2025 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year
Rose Lavelle has been voted U.S. Soccer’s Female Player of the Year for 2025 after a season that saw her return from injury, make key contributions for the U.S. Women’s National Team, and score the decisive goal in Gotham FC’s NWSL Championship win. Lavelle earned 29.2 percent of the weighted vote, finishing ahead of Sam Coffey and Catarina Macario, with voters including national team coaches, players, NWSL head coaches and select media members. Gotham teammate Lilly Reale was also honored as the U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year, highlighting a standout year for both players.

On SDH AM this morning, Jon Nelson will break down the latest on Oliver Glasner and Thomas Frank, the fallout from a chaotic AFCON final, and what to watch as the OFC Pro League opens its season. He will be joined as usual on Mondays by Abe Gordon of 92.9 The Game and Bart Keeler of the Soccer for US podcast.

At 10:30, Daniel Sperry of the Kansas City Star joins the show for a special segment on the sale of Sporting Kansas City and the broader state of soccer in Kansas City.

Join us tonight at 8:00 on YouTube and Twitch for a new edition of Soccer Over There, where we will follow up on the biggest stories from AFCON, the latest turns in the managerial carousel, and the growing debate around performative punditry. We will connect the dots from SDH AM, dig deeper into what matters, and then, as always, balance the serious with our usual shenanigans and buffoonery in Picks of the Week.

The Atlanta United Academy College Showcase on Saturday provided college coaches with a direct look at the top uncommitted players in the region, evaluated against their peers in a setting built for recruiting decisions. Held at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, the event brought together leading local clubs and college staffs from across the Southeast and beyond for full matches.

Coaches from programs such as Georgia Gwinnett and Oglethorpe emphasized the value of seeing players handle pressure, adjust to challenges, and compare within the same competitive environment. Rather than isolated moments, the showcase rewarded consistency and decision making over time, giving recruiting staffs clearer information at a critical point in the calendar and offering players a measurable test of readiness for the next step.

Canada Open World Cup Year with Win Under Marsch
Canada opened its World Cup year with a 1–0 friendly win over Guatemala in Los Angeles, as Jesse Marsch praised a performance that reflected the team’s identity even in a B international. Jacen Russell-Rowe scored the winner, while bubble players like Kamal Miller and Mathieu Choinière used the match to press their cases in an increasingly competitive selection picture. Marsch said the biggest takeaway was seeing his principles carry through regardless of personnel, an early marker for a defining year ahead.

Bernabéu Turns on Perez Despite Madrid Win
Real Madrid returned to winning ways with a 2–0 victory over Levante under interim coach Álvaro Arbeloa, but the result did little to calm a furious Santiago Bernabéu. Boos rained down on players including Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham, while chants calling for Florentino Pérez to resign echoed repeatedly through the stadium. Arbeloa appealed for unity before kickoff, but the night underlined how deeply unrest has taken hold after a week of eliminations and a coaching change.

Mbappé Calls for Unity After Bernabéu Whistles
Kylian Mbappé urged Real Madrid supporters to direct their anger at the entire team rather than singling out players like Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham, saying poor results are a collective responsibility. He acknowledged the fans’ frustration but stressed that targeting individuals risks harming players who are central to the club’s future. With unrest growing at the Bernabéu, Mbappé framed the moment as one that must be solved on the pitch, not through scapegoating.

Barcelona’s Streak Ends in Frustration at Sociedad
Barcelona’s 11 game winning run ended in a 2–1 loss at Real Sociedad despite a dominant display that featured three disallowed goals, five shots off the woodwork, and a string of saves from MVP goalkeeper Álex Remiro. Hansi Flick said the result did not reflect the performance, but the defeat cuts Barça’s lead over Real Madrid to just one point. Sociedad moved into eighth after riding their luck and leaning on a goalkeeping performance that defined the night.

Lens Go Top After Saïd Stunner
Lens stayed at the top of Ligue 1 with a 1–0 win over Auxerre, their 10th straight victory in all competitions, thanks to a brilliant volley from Wesley Saïd. The winger’s eighth goal of the season kept Lens one point clear of PSG at the summit. Auxerre pressed bravely, but Lens’ second half control and persistence proved decisive.

Chivas Stay Perfect but Finish Uncomfortably
Chivas made it three wins from three to start the Apertura with a 2–1 victory over Queraro, dominating the first half before surviving a nervy finish after conceding their first goal of 2026. Goals from Armando González and Roberto Alvarado were enough to keep them top of the table heading into the national team break. The performance was strong, but the late wobble offered a reminder that efficiency and composure will matter as the schedule tightens.

IFAB Consider Countdown Rules to Curb Time Wasting
Football’s lawmakers will discuss introducing countdown systems for throw ins, goal kicks, and substitutions as part of a renewed effort to combat deliberate delays. Possible sanctions include awarding corners or reversing throw ins, building on last year’s eight second limit for goalkeepers. Any changes would require trials and would not arrive in time for this summer’s World Cup, but the talks reflect growing concern as ball in play time continues to fall.

This Monday edition was defined less by results and more by how teams handle pressure when it arrives. Senegal lifted AFCON through chaos and controversy, Real Madrid wrestled with unrest in its own stadium, and in England the spotlight shifted again to managers running out of time at Palace and Spurs.

There were bright spots amid the noise. Manchester United earned a disciplined derby win, even if the conversation drifted toward punditry instead of performance. Barcelona finally blinked after 11 straight wins, Lens surged to the top in France, and Chivas stayed perfect in Mexico while learning how thin the margins still are.

Off the field, MLS signaled its continued growth with a record sale in Kansas City and more ambition in Miami, while IFAB opened the door to new ideas aimed at protecting the flow of the game.

Titles were won, streaks were broken, jobs were shaken, and the noise never stopped. Another reminder that in football, every weekend writes more than one story.

Jason