Senegal coach Pape Thiaw defended his team’s decision to walk off the pitch during the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco, presenting it as a response to perceived officiating injustice rather than an attempt to disrupt the sport.

The incident occurred in stoppage time of a goalless final marked by contentious decisions. Senegal had a potential winning goal disallowed after a lengthy review. Shortly afterward, Morocco were awarded a penalty, triggering strong protests from Senegal’s players and staff.

Following the penalty award, Senegal’s players surrounded the referee team. Under Thiaw’s direction, they began to leave the field toward the tunnel in protest at what they viewed as a decisive and unfair decision in a critical match.

Play was suspended. Moroccan players remained near the penalty area, match officials attempted to restore order, and security personnel addressed unrest in the stands. The walkoff, highly unusual in a major international final, became the central incident of the match.

In subsequent public statements, including on social media, Thiaw described the walkoff as a reaction to what he considered a breakdown in sporting fairness. He stated that his intention was to protect his players, not to oppose the fundamental rules of the game, and that after discussion they chose to resume the match and continue competing for the trophy.

The decision to return to the pitch followed on-field deliberations among Thiaw, senior players, and staff, while officials pressed for a restart. Captain Sadio Mané was reported to be a key figure in persuading teammates to continue, emphasizing both competitive objectives and obligations to supporters.

After approximately a 15-minute interruption, Senegal returned to the field and Morocco’s Brahim Díaz took the delayed penalty. The stadium environment remained tense, with reports of confrontations among players and incidents involving supporters that required security intervention.

Díaz’s penalty was saved, and normal time ended 0-0. In extra time, Senegal substitute Pape Guaye scored the only goal of the match, securing a 1-0 victory and the title for Senegal. The team that had temporarily left the field concluded the night as champions.

The following day, FIFA president Gianni Infantino publicly criticized Senegal’s walkoff as unacceptable conduct in a major final. The Moroccan Football Federation announced its intention to pursue legal action with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football, arguing that the interruption significantly affected the match’s normal flow and player performance.

These institutional reactions reframed the incident from an in-game flashpoint to a governance and integrity issue. Morocco emphasized the impact of the stoppage and the surrounding atmosphere on the fairness of the final. Senegal, by contrast, linked the walkoff to a broader pattern of perceived unfair treatment.

Before the final, the Senegal Football Federation had already raised concerns about what it described as insufficient fair play from the Moroccan hosts, citing logistical complaints and perceived attempts to unsettle the team. The disallowed goal and subsequent penalty decision reinforced Senegal’s belief that they were being disadvantaged.

In later comments, Thiaw acknowledged both the quality of the overall tournament organization and the negative nature of the final’s conclusion. He issued a conditional apology, stating that he was sorry if anyone had been offended, while maintaining that the reaction was rooted in the emotional dynamics of high-level competition.

The incident has highlighted a core tension: whether strict adherence to rules and procedural discipline should override immediate emotional responses to contentious decisions, especially in high-stakes matches, or whether such reactions are an inevitable part of elite sport.

Supporters of Thiaw’s stance frame the walkoff as a spontaneous response to an intolerable situation from the team’s perspective. Critics argue that it risks setting a precedent in which teams may interrupt or abandon matches when they strongly disagree with officiating decisions.

The final is now widely associated with both Guaye’s winning goal and the walkoff episode. The sequence of leaving the field, returning to face a penalty, and ultimately winning the trophy has become a defining narrative of this AFCON edition.

By defending his actions, Thiaw has effectively prompted a broader discussion about the limits of protest in football, the responsibilities of coaches in protecting players, and the point at which such actions may undermine the integrity and continuity of the game.