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By Oscar Okhifo
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has apologized for instructing his players to walk off the pitch during the dramatic closing moments of the 2025 AFCON final against host nation Morocco, a protest that was narrowly avoided thanks to captain Sadio Mane’s calm leadership.
The incident occurred in added time, shortly after a late penalty was awarded to Morocco.
Senegal’s Teranga Lions had protested the referee’s decision, leaving the pitch in a show of defiance.
The chaos followed a controversial moment seconds earlier, when a Senegal goal was disallowed after referee intervention for a push inside the box, which coincided with the penalty call for Morocco.
Speaking to Sports journalists after the match, Thiaw admitted his actions were wrong: “We did not agree with the decision, which is why we reacted that way. I was upset and told the players to leave the pitch. I regret it and apologize to the world of football.”
Amid the chaos, Sadio Mane, the Teranga Lions’ captain and key pillar, was not at home with the Coach’s directive. He stayed calmly on the pitch, refusing to follow the walkout.
Mane reportedly urged his aggrieved teammates to return to fight like men instead of abandoning the game. This, prevented a complete team protest and a possible hammer from the Continent’s Football governing body (CAF).
Football analysts note that if Mane had left the pitch with the team, it could have been interpreted as surrender to Morocco and immediately declaration of the Atlas Lions as winner. That also, may have led to sanctions against Senegal by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Mane’s composure has drawn widespread encomiums, with experts praising his leadership in a high-pressure moment, emphasizing how his intervention helped Senegal avoid a far worse outcome.
The controversial ending has reignited debates over officiating in African football and highlighted the intensity of the AFCON final between the Teranga Lions and the host Atlas Lions of Morocco.