Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has publicly apologised for his conduct during the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco, admitting that his actions were unsportsmanlike after he instructed his players to leave the pitch in protest.
Senegal went on to win the AFCON title with a narrow victory over the host nation, but the final was overshadowed by controversy following a tense incident late in the match that briefly threatened to halt proceedings.
Thiaw lost his composure after the referee awarded Morocco a penalty in stoppage time of the second half, a decision that angered the Senegalese bench and prompted the coach to order his players to withdraw from the field in protest.
Speaking to beIN SPORTS for the first time since the incident, Thiaw accepted full responsibility for his actions and offered an apology to the wider football community.
“I completely reject my decision to make the players leave the field. I lost control of my emotions at that moment, and this behaviour was unsportsmanlike. I sincerely apologise to the football family.”
The Senegal coach explained that his reaction was driven by intense emotions during a critical phase of the match, noting that frustration had already been building before the penalty decision.
“Sometimes one gets carried away by their feelings at certain moments; before that incident, a goal of ours was disallowed, and then serious doubts arose about the validity of the penalty kick that was awarded,” he said.
Thiaw added that he later reflected on the situation and acted to correct his mistake by instructing his players to return to the pitch so the match could continue.
“After I calmed down and thought about it carefully, I instructed the players to return to the field. Referees also make mistakes, and this is part of the game, and we have to accept it,” Thiaw said.
His apology comes as discussions continue around discipline and conduct following the dramatic AFCON 2025 final, which delivered both footballing excellence and moments of intense controversy.
