Mane slams 'sad' incident as Senegal's 'shameful' walk-off mars AFCON final
Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 after extra time in a controversial Africa Cup of Nations final; Senegal walked off the pitch after Morocco were awarded a penalty in stoppage time of normal time; Brahim Diaz saw his Panenka attempt saved when play finally resumed to send the final to extra-time
Monday 19 January 2026 16:17, UK
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Morocco head coach Walid Regragui says the image of Africa is "shameful" after Senegal walked off the pitch during the Africa Cup of Nations final when a penalty was awarded against them.
Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala pointed to the spot in stoppage time following a VAR check for Malick Diouf's challenge on Brahim Diaz, which prompted Senegal boss Pape Thiaw, who was already unhappy with a disallowed goal for his side, to send his players to the dressing room.
Former Liverpool winger Sadio Mane ordered his Senegal team-mates to return to the pitch, and when they did following a 16-minute delay, Morocco's Diaz saw his Paneka penalty saved by Edouard Mendy, sending the final to extra time.
Pape Gueye then struck the winner for Senegal with Morocco boss Regragui left disgusted by what he had seen.
"The image we've given of Africa is shameful," he said. "A coach who asks his players to leave the field...what Pape did does not honour Africa.
"Thiaw wasn't classy. But he is a champion, so he can say whatever he wants. We stopped the match in the eyes of the world for 10 minutes."
Thiaw said he regretted taking his players off the pitch.
Senegal 1-0 Morocco - report
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"I don't want to go over all the incidents. I apologise for the football," he told BeIN Sports.
"After reflecting on it, I made them come back [on the pitch] - you can react in the heat of the moment.
"We accept the errors of the referee. We shouldn't have done it, but it's done and now we present our apologies to football."
The Confederation of African Football said they condemned the "unacceptable behaviour of some players and officials" during the final and are reviewing footage before referring the matter "to competent bodies for appropriate action to be taken against those found guilty".
Mane added: "It would have been really a shame and sad to see this kind of thing, this kind of scenario happen. Imagine, just imagine for a second, going into the locker rooms and the football match stopped there. I think that would convey a negative image of our football; I think Africa today does not deserve that.
"African football has evolved in an incredible way and the proof is that it is followed all over the world. So, on my side, I did what I had to do, after I think we also had a bit of luck to have a goalkeeper like Edouard Mendy, who saved us once again, so, I think otherwise overall in the match, Senegal deserved to win."
Senegal midfielder Lamine Camara revealed the role Mane played in restarting the match.
"We knew that today it was important to win this trophy, we were all determined to win it thanks to Sadio and we saw what he did today, it is just incredible," he said.
"Well, we were in the dressing rooms, I was thinking of going with the 10 others, I think it was only him (Mane) who came in shouting, shouting at us to get out and go finish the match, so at the end he was right, we went out, we listened to him because when Sadio speaks everyone listens, we listened to him and finally it went well for us."
Me duele el alma. Soñé con este título gracias a todo el amor que me habéis dado, a cada mensaje, a cada muestra de apoyo que me hizo sentir que no estaba solo. Luché con todo lo que tenía, con el corazón por encima de todo.
Ayer fallé y asumo toda la responsabilidad y me… pic.twitter.com/W7oBP6crru
Diaz has apologised for his penalty miss in the final against Senegal, stating his "soul aches" and he will work tirelessly to repair the relationship with Moroccan supporters.
Writing on his X account, Diaz said: "My soul aches. I dreamed of this title thanks to all the love you gave me, for every message, for every show of support that made me feel I wasn't alone.
"I fought with everything I had, with my heart first and foremost. I failed yesterday, and I take full responsibility and apologise from the bottom of my heart. It will be difficult for me to get up, because this wound doesn't heal easily, but I will try.
"Not for myself, but for everyone who believed in me, and for everyone who suffered with me. I will keep going until one day I can repay all this love and be a source of pride for the Moroccan people."
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