Senegal Coach Apologizes After AFCON Final Scandal

The AFCON 2025 final between Senegal and Morocco will be remembered not only for the title, but for one of the most embarrassing scenes in the tournament’s history. Deep into stoppage time, after a penalty was awarded to Morocco for a challenge by Diouf on Brahim Díaz, the Senegalese team threatened to walk off the pitch.

The match was suspended for more than fifteen minutes amid confusion, protests, and images that quickly went viral around the world. The possibility of a continental final being decided by abandonment was real—and far closer than many realized.

One of the main figures in that critical moment was Pape Thiaw, head coach of Senegal. It was the coach himself who initially urged his players to leave the field in protest of the referee’s decision.

“I don’t want to talk about all the incidents. I apologize to football. We accept the referee’s mistakes. We shouldn’t have done it, and now we offer our apologies.”

What Pape Thiaw failed to mention is that Senegal did not return to the field because of him. The man who prevented a historic disqualification was Sadio Mané. The captain refused to leave the match, called for calm, and demanded that his teammates return to the pitch—even standing up to the head coach himself.

A statement that does not hold up without Mané’s direct intervention, the true leader in the most critical moment. Without his firm stance, Senegal would have lost the final by abandonment—no penalties, no extra time, no title.

After play resumed, Édouard Mendy saved Brahim Díaz’s penalty attempt—a failed Panenka—and in extra time Pape Gueye scored the goal that crowned Senegal champions of Africa. From a sporting perspective, the title is legitimate. Institutionally, however, the episode leaves many unanswered questions.

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