The Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco didn’t just end with a trophy—it left a storm of debate and tension across African football.
Senegal’s manager, Pape Thiaw, found himself at the center of the controversy after a dramatic late-game incident overshadowed their 1-0 win.
Players Walk Off in Protest
The drama began when Senegal’s players were ordered off the pitch in protest against a late penalty awarded to Morocco.
The decision came just minutes after a Senegalese goal was disallowed, leaving tempers flaring.
The pitch was empty for a tense 10 minutes, during which violent clashes erupted between fans and riot police in Rabat.
Eventually, Senegal returned to the field, and extra time saw Pape Gueye score the decisive goal, sealing a second AFCON title for the Lions in three editions.
Moroccan Manager Voices Frustration
Morocco’s coach, Walid Regragui, didn’t hold back after the match.
He criticized Thiaw for his actions, calling them “shameful” and claiming they tarnished the image of African football.
Moroccan journalists also called on Regragui to resign following the loss.
Regragui said, “The image we’ve given of Africa is shameful.
A coach who asks his players to leave the field… What Pape did does not honor Africa. That wasn’t classy.”
Despite his anger, he acknowledged the heartbreak of missing out on the title.
“We were one minute from being African champions.
Football is often cruel. Brahim Diaz missed a chance, and we have to accept it.”
Press Conference Chaos
Thiaw’s post-match press conference was abruptly canceled due to arguments between Senegalese and Moroccan journalists.
The manager and his daughter were met with a mixture of boos and cheers as tensions ran high.
Later, Thiaw publicly admitted regret for his decision to take the players off the pitch.
“I apologize for what happened. In the heat of the moment, emotions take over.
We shouldn’t have done it, but now we present our apologies to football.”
The Bizarre Towel Incident
The final wasn’t without other odd moments.
Footage emerged of Senegal goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf clashing with Moroccan ball boys over towels meant for his teammate Edouard Mendy.
Diouf, who was protecting the towels near the goal, was confronted multiple times.
At one point, he was dragged to the ground and chased around the touchline by security and the ball boys.
Moroccan fans were even seen waving Mendy’s blue towel in the stands.
Despite the chaos, Diouf later took to social media to joke about the incident, posting a photo with the medal and towel accompanied by a laughing emoji.
In an interview, he added that the towel scuffles weren’t “fair play” but emphasized they were minor compared to the bigger picture.
“For me, they were just towels, nothing more. I wanted to make sure Doudou was focused on the game.”
Celebrations and Heartbreak
Senegal’s victory sent their players into jubilant collapse on the soggy pitch, celebrating their second AFCON title in three editions.
Morocco, meanwhile, continues to wait for a first trophy in 50 years.
Pundits Weigh In
Experts had mixed feelings about Senegal’s protest.
Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel said, “I can understand their frustration, but walking off the pitch isn’t what I want to see.”
Former Nigeria striker Efan Ekoku agreed, calling the action “foolish and reckless” while expressing sympathy for the team.
He also criticized Brahim Diaz’s penalty attempt, calling it “too clever for his own good” and warning that such a chance might never come again in an AFCON final.
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