Pape Thiaw has received public backing from former France international Hatem Ben Arfa following Senegal’s dramatic 1-0 victory over Morocco in the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, a match that continues to provoke intense debate and scrutiny.
The Senegal head coach has been at the centre of a storm since the final, with Morocco calling for his outright dismissal in the aftermath of a game marked by controversy and heightened tensions.
Despite the pressure, Thiaw has retained vocal support, particularly from figures who have praised his conduct during a turbulent evening.
As political and sporting pressure intensified, and amid what has been described by supporters as a media and legal witch hunt, Ben Arfa chose to break his silence.
The former French international publicly paid tribute to Thiaw, highlighting what he described as the coach’s strength and resolve in an atmosphere that many have labelled hostile.
Ben Arfa made his position clear in a message posted on social media, offering an unambiguous show of solidarity.
He wrote: “National hero Pape Thiaw. I would like to see his statue in Dakar. We love you, Senegal.”
The statement quickly drew attention.
For many Senegalese supporters, it reinforced the view of Thiaw as a symbol of national pride following the country’s triumph.
However, the message also risked deepening frustration in Morocco, where the final result remains disputed and emotions surrounding the match remain raw.
The controversy surrounding Thiaw has not subsided.
According to several sources, the Confederation of African Football’s disciplinary committee is examining incidents that occurred during the final.
Central to the review is the decision by Senegalese players to briefly leave the pitch in protest after a penalty was awarded to Morocco in the first minute of stoppage time, before play was eventually resumed.
That moment, widely seen as emblematic of the extreme tension of the final, has become a focal point of post-match discussions.
While some observers argue it reflected the intensity of a high-stakes encounter, others believe accountability must follow.
As the investigation continues, Pape Thiaw remains both a celebrated figure and a contested one, his role in Senegal’s AFCON triumph now inseparable from the controversy that followed it.
