The Teranga Lions of Senegal’s national team coach, Pape Thiaw, has publicly addressed a tense moment during the AFCON Final match against Morocco. The incident occurred when a penalty kick was awarded against Senegal.
Reflecting on the event, Coach Thiaw explained his initial reaction. “Quite simply, we did not agree with the decision,” he stated. He chose not to focus heavily on the call itself but rather on his own conduct in the heated moment.
“In a moment of anger, I told the players to leave the pitch,” Thiaw admitted. “I apologize to the world of football for that.”
The coach described a quick shift in his thinking. After taking a moment to calm down, he reconsidered his instruction. “Once I calmed down and thought it over, I asked them to return to the field,” he said. The match then resumed, and play continued.
When asked if he viewed telling the players to leave as a mistake he later corrected, Thiaw was clear. “Yes,” he confirmed. He provided context for the team’s frustration, noting they felt a goal of their own had been unfairly disallowed just before the penalty incident.
“Sometimes we act out of nerves,” the coach said. “We were questioning: was the penalty even valid?”
However, Thiaw emphasized the team’s acceptance of the officiating, despite their disagreement. “We accept the referee’s mistakes, as that is part of football,” he stated. “We aren’t making excuses; ultimately, we have offered our apologies to the game.”
His statements highlight the high-pressure nature of international football and a commitment to sportsmanship, even in moments of strong disagreement.