Senegal coach Pape Thiaw expresses 'profound regret' over chaotic AFCON final walk-off

Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has issued a public apology for the chaotic scenes that overshadowed his team's 1-0 victory over Morocco in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, stating it was "never my intention to go against the principles of the game."

In an emotional statement posted on social media, the coach expressed "profound regret" for his decision to instruct his players to walk off the pitch in protest during the final's closing minutes.

The incident, which halted the match for approximately 17 minutes, occurred after a contentious penalty was awarded to Morocco via VAR, following the disallowance of a Senegal goal mere minutes earlier.

Thiaw defended his actions as a spontaneous attempt to protect his players. "I was just trying to protect my players from injustice," he wrote. "What some will perceive as a rule violation is nothing but an emotional reaction to the bias of the situation."

The walk-off, which has been formally protested by the Moroccan Football Federation to both CAF and FIFA, nearly resulted in a sensational abandonment of the final. The match was only resumed after veteran captain Sadio Mané successfully persuaded the team to return to the field. Following the restart, Édouard Mendy saved Brahim Díaz's penalty kick, and Senegal went on to win the trophy in extra time with a goal from Pape Gueye.

Thiaw concluded his statement by acknowledging the controversy and extending an apology. "After consultation, we decided to restart the match and go win this trophy for you," he stated. "I apologise if I may have offended some people."

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is currently investigating the matter, and Thiaw is expected to face significant disciplinary sanctions for his role in the protest.

Despite the impending investigation, the coach's statement aims to contextualise the highly charged moment while accepting responsibility for his controversial decision that marred his team's historic second continental title.

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