Senegal’s coach walks out after contentious media session
Senegal’s head coach, Pape Thiaw, walked out of his post-match media duties following jeering from Moroccan journalists upon his arrival. While Senegalese reporters applauded the 44-year-old, the local press responded with boos, leading Thiaw to leave without addressing questions regarding his controversial decision to withdraw his players from the field, reports BritPanorama.
Thiaw’s departure came after a dramatic Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat, where Senegal defeated hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time. The match had taken a controversial turn when Thiaw instructed his players to leave the pitch during stoppage time in protest against a penalty awarded to Morocco that many viewed as dubious.
Morocco’s manager, Walid Regragui, faced questions of his own during his press conference and took the opportunity to criticise Thiaw fiercely. “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,” he stated.
Match-winner Pape Gueye revealed that captain Sadio Mané motivated the team to return to the pitch during the chaos. “We were frustrated, but Sadio told us to come back on the pitch to remobilise us,” he explained. Despite the turmoil, Senegal secured their second AFCON title in five years, with Gueye’s goal in the additional period sealing the victory.
The final was marred by escalating tensions when VAR intervened to grant Morocco a penalty after El Hadji Malick Diouf was deemed to have fouled Brahim Diaz. Thiaw’s reaction was to order his players off the field in protest, a decision that drew criticism from commentators and former players.
As the situation intensified, disorder erupted in the stands, leading to clashes with security personnel. Eventually, Thiaw’s players, led by Mané, returned to the field after a lengthy interruption, allowing the match to resume. Although Diaz’s penalty attempt was thwarted by Senegal’s goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, the game went into extra time, where Gueye’s strike proved decisive.
In reflecting on the contest, Regragui lamented the missed opportunity for his team, saying, “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.”
In a tournament defined by resilience and rivalry, this encounter showcased not just the passion for the game, but also the thin line connecting triumph and turmoil, a reminder that in football, the stakes are never just about the scoreline.
