Senegal coach Pape Bouna Thiaw has justified the decision of his players to walk-off by in Sunday’s AFCON 2025, claiming it was driven by emotion and a feeling of injustice, Afrosport reports.
The Teranga Lions staged a lengthy protest after a penalty was awarded to Morocco in the dying stages, walking off the pitch before returning to continue.
Brahim Diaz squandered the penalty for Morocco, taking the match to extra time, where Senegal scored to win 1-0 via Pape Gueye and claimed a second Cup AFCON title in the last three editions.
In an Instagram post on Thursday, Thiaw attempted to explain his actions, which have been widely condemned in many quarters, and for which he faces possible sanctions.
“We experienced an exceptional tournament with magnificent organisation, which unfortunately ended in tragedy,” he said.
“It was never my intention to go against the principles of the game that I love so much.
“I simply tried to protect my players from injustice. What some will see as a violation of the rules is nothing more than an emotional reaction to the bias of the situation.
“After discussions, we decided to resume the match and go for the trophy for you [Senegalese supporters].
“I apologise if I offended anyone, but football lovers will understand that emotion is an integral part of this sport.”
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The Teranga Lions returned back home to a vibrant celebration from fans on the streets of the capital city Dakar while the country’s president rewarded each player a bonus of 75 million CFA ($135,000).
