Senegal Coach Pape Thiaw Issues Heartfelt Apology to Football After AFCON Final Chaos
Senegal's head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw has publicly apologized to the sport of football. This follows a dramatic incident during the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final against host nation Morocco in Rabat on Sunday.
Chaotic Final Marred by Controversial Decisions
The match descended into chaos after a series of contentious referee calls. The controversy centered on two key moments. First, Senegal had a goal disallowed at one end of the pitch. Almost simultaneously, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded a penalty to Morocco's Brahim Diaz following a VAR review.
The video assistant referee judged that Senegal's full-back, El Hadji Malick Diouf, committed a foul by tugging Diaz's shirt. This dual decision infuriated the Senegalese bench and players.
Heat of the Moment Decision Leads to Walk-Off
Angered by the penalty award, Coach Pape Thiaw made a split-second decision. He instructed his players to leave the pitch in protest. The team began walking off, creating a highly unusual and tense situation in a major tournament final.
"We did not agree with the decision, that is all," Thiaw later explained to beIN Sports in the mixed zone. "Sometimes you can react in the heat of the moment."
However, the coach quickly reconsidered his action. Senior player Sadio Mane played a crucial mediating role. Mane stayed on the pitch and urged his teammates to return. Thiaw then reversed his instruction and brought the players back to continue the match.
Thiaw's Public Apology and Reflection
After the match, Thiaw expressed deep regret for his initial reaction. "After reflecting, I really did not like the fact that I told my players to leave the pitch," he stated. "I apologise to football. I brought them back."
The coach acknowledged that referees can make mistakes, just like players and coaches. "We accept the referee's mistakes, that can happen," Thiaw said. "We should not have done it, but it is already done. We apologise."
Senegal Triumphs Amid the Turmoil
Despite the disruption, the match reached a thrilling conclusion. After the players returned, Morocco's Brahim Diaz took the controversial penalty. Senegalese goalkeeper Eduardo Mendy made a superb save to keep the score level.
The game went into extra time. Senegal's Papa Gueye then scored a spectacular winning goal. The 1-0 victory secured the Africa Cup of Nations title for Senegal, though the celebration was overshadowed by the earlier incident.
Moroccan Coach Criticizes the Incident
Morocco's head coach, Walid Regragui, did not hold back in his post-match comments. Regragui, who also clashed with Thiaw after the final whistle, called the walk-off shameful for African football.
"The image Africa showed today is a bit shameful," Regragui stated during his press conference. "When a coach tells his players to leave the pitch... What Pape did tonight does not honour Africa. It was not classy."
Regragui emphasized the importance of maintaining dignity in both victory and defeat. He concluded by noting that Thiaw, as the African champion, now has the right to say whatever he wants.
The 2025 AFCON final will be remembered not just for Senegal's triumph, but for the dramatic protest and subsequent apology that sparked widespread discussion about sportsmanship and pressure in high-stakes football.
