Senegal forward Sadio Mane has revealed why he intervened to stop his team’s boycott during the dramatic 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco.
The match reached a tense climax when Morocco was awarded a penalty in the final moments of regular time, prompting protests from the Senegalese players. At one point, coach Pape Thiaw instructed the team to withdraw, but Mane urged his teammates to return to the pitch.
Brahim Diaz ultimately missed the penalty for Morocco, and moments later, Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal to secure Senegal’s 1-0 victory.
Speaking after the match, Mane shared his joy and gratitude to God for the win, explaining why he rallied his team to finish the match.
“Thank God for winning the title. I want to write my story in Africa after this title. What happened was that the coach and everyone decided to leave, and I didn’t understand what happened. I took some advice and told them that we must play, because it would be crazy to stop the match while the whole world is watching us,” Mane said.
