Senegal coach Pape Thiaw said on Thursday that his decision to send players toward the dressing rooms in the closing minutes of the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco was driven by what he described as a moment of emotional reaction to perceived refereeing injustice.
In a statement posted on social media, Thiaw said the match ended under intense tension after a Senegal goal was disallowed and a penalty awarded to Morocco in stoppage time, prompting frustration within the Senegal camp. He said his initial decision was intended to protect his players rather than to undermine the game or its rules.
Thiaw added that discussions with his technical staff and players led to a return to the pitch to complete the match, which he said was done out of respect for Senegalese supporters. He acknowledged that the tournament had been marked by a high organisational and technical standard, despite what he called a dramatic ending.
The Senegal coach issued explicit apologies to anyone offended by his conduct, including Morocco coach Walid Regragui, and said emotional reactions were inevitable in high stakes finals. He praised his 28 players as “warriors” who gave everything for their country.
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