Senegal Coach Pape Thiaw Justifies Walkoff During AFCON Final

Senegal’s coach, Pape Thiaw, has come forward to defend his team’s decision to walk off the field during the Africa Cup of Nations final. He described the moment as an emotional reaction, taken amidst the chaos that unfolded during the match.

Last Sunday, Senegal departed the pitch in stoppage time after Morocco was awarded a penalty, just moments after a potential game-winning goal for Senegal was disallowed.

In a statement on Instagram, Thiaw expressed, “It was never my intention to go against the principles of the game I cherish so deeply. I aimed to protect my players from what I perceived as an injustice. What some may view as a breach of the rules was merely an emotional response to the circumstances. After careful consideration, we chose to return to the match and pursue the victory.”

Sadio Mané played a pivotal role in convincing the Senegal players to return to the field, allowing Brahim Díaz to take the penalty for Morocco. Díaz’s penalty was ultimately saved during the final seconds of normal time, and Senegal later secured a 1-0 victory with a goal from Pape Guaye in extra time.

The following day, FIFA President Gianni Infantino criticized Senegal’s walkoff, while the Moroccan Football Federation announced its intent to pursue legal action with both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football, claiming the incident “significantly impacted the normal flow of the match and the players’ performance.”

The decision to award the penalty incited scuffles around the field, with players from both sides clashing on the sidelines. Meanwhile, stewards attempted to manage the situation as some fans breached the field, contributing to the turmoil.

The walkoff led to a 15-minute delay in play, yet disturbances continued even as Brahim attempted his penalty kick.

Reflecting on the tournament, Thiaw noted, “We experienced an exceptional competition with remarkable organization, which regrettably concluded in a dramatic manner.” He also expressed concern over a perceived lack of “fair play” from the Moroccan hosts leading up to the final, intensifying the Teranga Lions’ feeling of injustice after their late goal was disallowed and the penalty was awarded against them.

In closing, Thiaw offered an apology, stating, “If I have offended anyone, I sincerely apologize. However, I believe that true football enthusiasts will understand that emotion is an essential component of our beloved sport.”