Senegal’s hopes of a smooth victory in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final were disrupted when Morocco was awarded a stoppage-time penalty. Coach Pape Thiaw signaled his players to leave the pitch in protest, sparking chaos and a 14-minute delay.
In the postmatch interview, Thiaw explained his actions: “Quite simply, because we did not agree with the decision. I don’t want to dwell too much on that specific moment of the match, but after reflecting on it, I didn’t like how I acted.” Thiaw apologized to the world of football for his behavior, acknowledging it was a mistake influenced by nerves and frustration.
The controversy stemmed from a VAR-reviewed penalty awarded to Morocco after Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf was judged to have fouled Brahim Diaz. Senegal had previously had a goal disallowed, adding to their frustration.
Thiaw’s players eventually returned to the field, and Edouard Mendy saved Diaz’s penalty, leading to Senegal’s 1-0 win in extra time.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui criticized the scenes, saying, “The image we gave of African football was rather shameful “. Would you like to know more about the AFCON final or Pape Thiaw’s apology?
