The Africa Cup of Nations final descended into unprecedented controversy and acrimony as Senegal staged a dramatic walk-off protest, leading to Morocco head coach Walid Regragui branding his opposite number Pape Thiaw's actions as "shameful" for African football.
A Final of High Drama and Controversy
In a match Regragui later described as having "a Hitchcockian script", Senegal were moments from glory in normal time when they had a stoppage-time goal ruled out. The drama escalated when the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened to award Morocco a penalty. This contentious decision prompted the furious Senegalese players, led by their coach, to walk off the pitch in a prolonged protest that halted the match for approximately ten minutes.
Upon their eventual return, Morocco's Brahim Díaz squandered the golden opportunity to win the trophy, missing his penalty with a poorly executed Panenka chip. Senegal, reinvigorated, seized their chance in extra time, with Pape Gueye firing the decisive goal to secure a 2-1 victory and their nation's second Afcon title.
Post-Match Fury and Accusations
The bitterness spilled over into the post-match press conference, where Regragui launched a scathing attack on Thiaw. "The image we've given of Africa is shameful. A coach who asks his players to leave the field ... What Pape did does not honour Africa," Regragui stated. He accused Thiaw of lacking class, referencing pre-match comments, but conceded, "he is a champion, so he can say whatever he wants."
Regragui suggested the lengthy stoppage affected his player, though he did not excuse the penalty miss. "We were one minute from being African champions. That's football. It's often cruel," he lamented, reflecting on a missed opportunity that ended Morocco's 26-game unbeaten run under his leadership.
Senegal's match-winner, Pape Gueye, explained his team's actions, citing a sense of injustice. "There had been a foul for us and the referee chose not to look at the VAR," he said. He credited senior player Sadio Mané with rallying the squad to return to the pitch and complete the match, a decision that ultimately led to their triumph.
Chaos Echoes Beyond the Pitch
The discord was not confined to the coaches. The post-match press conference itself was thrown into disarray. Thiaw's entrance was met with a mix of cheers and boos, followed by a mass walkout by Moroccan journalists. Arguments between Senegalese and Moroccan media representatives halted proceedings for several minutes, with confrontations spilling onto the stage before Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials ended the event.
Despite the historic victory, Thiaw faced calls from some quarters to resign, a stark contrast to the celebrations in Senegal. The chaotic scenes provided a fittingly turbulent conclusion to a final that will be remembered more for its controversy and conflict than for its football.
