Senegal has climbed to the top of African football but has not escaped criticism.
Led by Pape Thiaw (45), Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 after extra time in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final on the 19th (Korea time) at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
With this, Senegal lifted its second tournament trophy overall, five years after 2021. Morocco had aimed for its first title in 50 years since the 1976 Ethiopia tournament, but had to settle for a second runner-up finish since the 2004 Tunisia tournament.
But the focus that day was not Senegal's title or the match-winning goal by Pape Gueye (27, Villarreal). Senegal's unexpected actions that led to a stoppage of play came under fire.
In the 98th minute of stoppage time in the second half, during a Morocco corner, Malick Diouf (22, West Ham United) pulled the neck of Brahim Díaz (27, Real Madrid), and the referee awarded a penalty after a video assistant referee (VAR) review.
Coach Thiaw vehemently protested the decision, and a violent clash even broke out between the two teams' benches. As a sign of protest, Thiaw instructed his players to leave the field and return to the dressing room.
With the commander leading a refusal to continue the match, play was halted for 16 minutes. Meanwhile, a brawl broke out among Senegalese fans in the stadium that holds 69,500, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. The stadium quickly descended into chaos.
It was a tense situation that could have resulted in a forfeit if Liverpool legend Sadio Mané (34, Al Nassr) had not persuaded his Senegal teammates to return to the pitch.
According to the BBC, host coach Walid Regragui (51) expressed greater disappointment with Senegal's behavior than with the disappointment of finishing runner-up.
In the postgame press conference, Regragui said, "What Senegal showed is shameful," adding, "That kind of behavior is not a way to honor African football. It was a scene that should never have occurred in a final watched by the whole world."
In fact, many prominent figures in football attended the match, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino. What should have been a festival to raise the stature of African football was marred by Senegal's "boycott disturbance."
Facing fierce criticism, Thiaw apologized in an interview held after a canceled media briefing, saying, "We did not agree with the decision. But looking back, I should not have sent the players out."
He added, "I apologize to the football community," and bowed his head again, saying, "One can react in the heat of the moment, but we should have accepted the referee's mistake. I acknowledge it was an action we should not have taken."
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