Senegal coach Pape Thiaw ordered his team to leave the field during the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday after being left frustrated when Morocco were awarded a penalty
Senegal boss Pape Thiaw refused to conduct his press conference following his side’s Africa Cup of Nations win as he was booed by media members as he entered the room. Thiaw was jeered by Moroccan journalists and ‘hounded out of the room’ after Senegal defeated Morocco in a dramatic tournament finale.
The 44-year-old Thiaw ordered his team off the pitch after Morocco were awarded a soft penalty with the scores level. Senegal had moments earlier seen a goal ruled out for a tenuous foul in stoppage time, and the referee pointing to the spot appeared to be the final straw.
Morocco’s Brahim Diaz was judged to have been fouled by West Ham star El Hadji Malick Diouf, with referee Jean-Jacques Ndala being summoned to VAR. Some Senegal fans invaded the pitch as security rushed to block them.
Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane ultimately persuaded his team-mates to return as the match was delayed 17 minutes. Diaz then stepped up for the penalty and put a Panenka straight into Edouard Mendy’s arms.
Extra-time followed with Papa Gueye firing a rocket shot after 94 minutes that secured glory for Senegal. Thiaw’s celebrations were eventually hit ahead of his press conference and he stormed out.
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Morocco boss Walid Regragui took aim at Thiaw in his. “The image we’ve given of Africa is shameful. A coach who asks his players to leave the field … What Pape did does not honour Africa,” Regragui said.
“He had already started in the [pre-match] press conference. He wasn’t classy. But he is a champion, so he can say whatever he wants.
“We stopped the match in the eyes of the world for 10 minutes. That didn’t help Brahim. That doesn’t excuse Brahim for the way he hit the penalty. He hit it like that and we have to accept it.
“We were one minute from being African champions. That’s football. It’s often cruel. We missed what for some was the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Match-winner Gueye attempted to explain Senegal’s actions. “What we felt was injustice. There had been a foul for us and the referee chose not to look at the VAR,” he said.
“We were frustrated, but Sadio [Mané] told us to come back on the pitch to remobilise us. We all saw what happened at the end. We took the decision to come back on the pitch to give everything – which we did.”
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