Pape Thiaw explains Senegal’s AFCON final walk-off three months later

Three months after the dramatic end to the 2025 AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco, Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has offered fresh comments on the decision that led his side to leave the pitch during the match.

In excerpts from an upcoming documentary by journalist Saikou Seydi, the Senegal boss revisited the controversial events surrounding the final, a match that remains one of the most debated moments in recent African football history.

“Our supporters were on the other side, and there were problems. Even on the pitch, so we couldn’t play,” he said, according to Afrik-foot.

The statement quickly generated reactions, particularly among Moroccan supporters, with some interpreting the remarks as a renewed attempt to explain or defend Senegal’s decision to withdraw from the game after Morocco had been awarded a penalty.

The final ended in controversy after the Lions of Teranga walked off the pitch, an incident that later resulted in disciplinary action from the Confederation of African Football. CAF handed Pape Thiaw a five-match suspension and imposed a fine of $100,000 following the events surrounding the abandoned final.

What has added further attention to the latest comments is the contrast with Thiaw’s earlier reaction immediately after the match. At the time, the Senegal coach publicly expressed regret over the decision to instruct his players to leave the field.

“We didn’t agree. But after reflection, I really didn’t appreciate asking my players to leave the pitch. I apologize to football.”

Those remarks were widely viewed as an acknowledgment that emotions had overtaken the situation during the final moments of the contest.

However, only a short extract from the upcoming documentary has so far been released, meaning the complete context of Thiaw’s latest comments remains unclear.

Observers are now waiting for the full broadcast to better understand the coach’s explanation and whether his remarks were intended as justification or simply a recollection of the atmosphere surrounding the match.

Despite the passing of time, the 2025 AFCON final continues to divide opinion across the continent. For many supporters in both Senegal and Morocco, the match remains an emotional and controversial chapter that still resonates within African football.

The documentary is expected to reignite debate around one of the most contentious incidents seen in a major African tournament in recent years.