Senegal Coach Defends AFCON Final Walk-Off Before Expected Sanction

Senegal Team Walks Off Field in AFCON Final Amid Controversy

In the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco, Senegal’s players and coaches walked off the field in injury time after a disputed penalty award. The incident occurred when Morocco was awarded a penalty just moments after a potential Senegal goal was ruled out.

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has defended his team’s decision to walk off, stating that it was an emotional reaction to what he perceived as bias in the situation. In a post-game statement on Instagram, Thiaw wrote: “It was never my intention to go against the principles of the game I love so much… I simply tried to protect my players from injustice.”

The team ultimately resumed play and went on to win 1-0 in extra time, with Pape Guaye scoring the winning goal. FIFA President Gianni Infantino criticized Senegal’s walk-off, while the Moroccan Football Federation is pursuing legal action against FIFA and the Confederation of African Football.

The incident led to a 15-minute stop in play, during which there were reports of fights between rival players and stewards. Some fans managed to get onto the field, leading to further disruptions. The Senegal team’s walk-off was seen as an emotional response to what they perceived as unfair treatment by the Moroccan hosts.

The Senegalese Football Federation has expressed disappointment with the refereeing decisions made during the match, stating that it led to a lack of “fair play”. Thiaw apologized for any offense caused by his team’s actions, acknowledging that emotion is a natural part of the sport.

Source: Al Jazeera