The Africa Cup of Nations final will be remembered for its drama on the pitch — but also for the intense emotions on the touchline. One of the defining moments came after Morocco were awarded a late penalty, when Senegal coach Pape Thiaw signaled his players to head for the locker room in protest.
Now, the Senegalese coach has spoken openly about that controversial decision — and his words reflect honesty, accountability, and respect for the game.
“Quite simply, we did not agree with the decision,” Thiaw explained. “I don’t want to dwell too much on that moment, but after reflecting on it, I didn’t like how I acted.”
In the heat of the moment, frustration took control.
“Out of anger, I told the players to leave the pitch,” he admitted. “And I want to apologize to the world of football for that reaction.”
Once calm returned, so did perspective.
“After thinking it over, I asked the players to return to the field,” Thiaw continued. “And we all saw what happened after that.”
When asked if the instruction to walk off was a mistake, the coach was clear.
“Yes. Sometimes nerves get the better of us,” he said. “We were questioning whether the penalty was even valid, especially after a goal we scored just before was disallowed. But refereeing mistakes are part of football.”
No excuses. No bitterness.
“We accept it,” Thiaw concluded. “We have offered our apologies to the game.”
In a final filled with chaos and emotion, Pape Thiaw’s response stands out as a moment of humility — and a reminder that football, above all, demands respect.
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