Bayal Sall Responds to Sagnol with Powerful Goal Celebration
When Mustapha Bayal Sall scored the equalizer for AS Saint-Étienne against Inter Milan in Thursday’s Europa League clash (1-1), it was more than just a goal—it was a symbolic response.
The Senegalese defender, cheered on by a united Saint-Étienne crowd of both black and white supporters, celebrated with a gesture that seemed ordinary at first glance but carried profound meaning in the wake of Willy Sagnol’s controversial remarks about African players. His action was widely interpreted as a proud affirmation of his African heritage and a subtle rebuke to stereotypes.
After the match, Sall did not hold back when speaking to L’Équipe:
“He (Sagnol) shouldn’t talk about certain things, but I don’t care. The most important thing is to be proud of being African and we will never change. We will stay like that all our lives.”
He continued:
“What matters is being able to communicate and know how to talk about certain subjects. In the end, it was him who spoke…”
Sall’s performance and his words added a powerful voice to the chorus of players, coaches, and public figures who have criticized Sagnol’s remarks, which were widely seen as reinforcing damaging racial clichés.
His message was clear: African players are not defined by physical attributes alone, but by pride, intelligence, and unity—on and off the pitch.
