Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has issued a public apology following his decision to instruct his players to walk off the pitch during the stormy Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against hosts Morocco, an incident that also caused chaos in the post-match press room.
The controversy erupted late in the match when Moroccan forward Brahim Díaz was awarded a penalty after a challenge by Senegal defender Malick Diouf.
The decision, confirmed by VAR, sparked outrage on the Senegal bench and led Thiaw to order his team to leave the field, plunging the stadium into confusion as the players retreated down the tunnel.
After an extended delay and urgent interventions from officials and senior players, the Senegal squad eventually returned to complete the match, which they went on to win 1-0 in extra time. Nevertheless, the fallout continued to dominate headlines.
Speaking after the final, Thiaw admitted that his reaction was inappropriate. “I apologise to football. You can react in the heat of the moment. We accept the referee’s decision. It should not have happened,” he said.
The incident has generated global attention. Naija News reports that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has condemned the behaviour and launched an investigation, with disciplinary action still a possibility. FIFA also criticised the disruption that overshadowed the final in Rabat.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui labelled Thiaw’s actions “shameful,” as the hosts were left to rue another near miss in their long pursuit of continental glory.
The tension extended into the media centre at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, where Thiaw faced a hostile reception during the post-match press conference. Jeers and boos came from sections of the Moroccan media, while Senegalese journalists applauded, heightening the disorder. Thiaw briefly took his seat before leaving without answering questions, bringing the chaotic session to an abrupt close.
The initial spark for the controversy came deep into stoppage time. Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty in the 95th minute after a VAR review, ruling that Malick Diouf had fouled Brahim Díaz. The call followed the disallowing of a Senegal goal minutes earlier, adding to the sense of injustice on their bench.
Senegal’s players remained off the field for nearly 15 minutes, leaving Moroccan players and fans bewildered. Senior figures, including captain Sadio Mané, intervened to persuade the team to return and complete the match.
When play resumed, drama peaked. Díaz stepped up to take the penalty with a delicate Panenka attempt, only for Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to save comfortably. The miss appeared to demoralise Morocco, allowing Senegal to seize control and score the decisive goal through Pape Gueye early in extra time.
Thiaw later reflected on his actions in an interview with Bein Sports, saying:
“We did not agree with the decision, that is all, and I do not want to go back over what happened in this match. After reflecting, I really did not like the fact that I told my players to leave the pitch.
“I apologise to football. I brought them back. Sometimes you can react in the heat of the moment. We asked ourselves whether that penalty could have been given if our goal before that had been allowed. But now we accept the referee’s mistakes, which can happen. We should not have done it, but it is already done. We apologise.”
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