Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has defended his team’s decision to walk off the field during the Africa Cup of Nations final, describing it as an emotional response to a chaotic situation.
Last Sunday, the Senegal team left the pitch during stoppage time after Morocco was awarded a penalty just after a potential winning goal for Senegal was disallowed.
“It was never my intention to contravene the principles of the game I cherish deeply,” Thiaw stated on Instagram Thursday. “I acted to protect my players from what felt unjust. What some may interpret as a breach of the rules was simply an emotional reaction to the circumstances. After consideration, we chose to resume the match and continue pursuing the trophy.”
Sadio Mané encouraged the Senegal players to return to the field so Brahim Díaz could take the penalty for Morocco. Díaz’s attempt was saved in the final moments of regular time, and Pape Guaye secured a 1-0 victory for Senegal in extra time.
The following day, FIFA President Gianni Infantino criticized Senegal’s walkoff, and the Moroccan Football Federation announced plans to take legal action against proper football authorities, citing that the incident “significantly disrupted the match flow and affected player performance.”
The penalty decision sparked scuffles on the field, with players clashing on the sidelines while stewards struggled with Senegalese fans behind one of the goals. Some fans managed to invade the pitch, leading to continued altercations as they were forcibly removed.
The Senegal team’s walkoff resulted in a 15-minute delay in play, but confrontations were still ongoing as Brahim took the penalty.
“We had an extraordinary tournament with excellent organization, which regrettably concluded in a dramatic manner,” Thiaw remarked.
The Senegal Football Federation condemned the lack of “fair play” from the Moroccan hosts before the final, which contributed to the Teranga Lions’ feeling of injustice over the disallowed late goal and the subsequent penalty awarded against them.
“I apologize to anyone who felt offended,” Thiaw expressed regarding his team’s walkoff. “However, I believe true football fans will understand that emotion is a vital aspect of our sport.”