Senegal Manager Leaves AFCON Presser After Clashing With Moroccan Journalists

Senegal manager Pape Thiaw walked out of his press conference following his side's Africa Cup of Nations triumph.

Senegal clinched their second AFCON title in the nation's history following Sunday's controversial final against Morocco.

They beat the hosts 1-0 to win their first AFCON championship since 2021.

But the game was marred by Thiaw's instructions after a contentious VAR review.

The match referee awarded Morocco a penalty following an incident between Brahim Diaz and El Hadji Malick Diouf in the box.

Thiaw told his players to leave the field as a result of the decision.

They returned to the dressing room before coming back out 17 minutes later.

The Real Madrid star fluffed his lines from the spot as he attempted a Panenka, with Pape Gueye scoring Senegal's winner in first-half extra-time.

After the game, Diaz broke down in tears as he delivered a message to the dressing room.

Thiaw entered the press room to field questions, but he refused to conduct his post-match press conference.

He was booed by media members and jeered by Moroccan journalists and 'hounded out of the room'.

Mayhem ensued in the press room as Thiaw eventually left his seat and walked out.

Ugly scenes in the press conference room, as journalists from #Morocco boo Pape Thiaw, #Senegal’s #AFCON2025 trophy 🏆 winning coach. This is shameful. Very shameful. This should not happen, no matter what happened on the field. Thiaw walked out. We don’t know what happens now. pic.twitter.com/22J8DpWJIJ

— Osasu Obayiuwana (@osasuo) January 18, 2026

In an interview with BeIN Sport, however, Thiaw said: "We did not agree with the decision, that is all, and I do not want to go back over what happened in this match. After reflecting, I really did not like the fact that I told my players to leave the pitch. I apologise to football. I brought them back.

"Sometimes you can react in the heat of the moment. We asked ourselves whether that penalty could have been given if our goal before that had been allowed. But now we accept the referee’s mistakes, that can happen. We should not have done it, but it is already done. We apologise."

Walid Regragui called out his fellow counterpart's order during the AFCON final when reflecting on the game.

"The image we’ve given of Africa is shameful," he exclaimed. "A coach who asks his players to leave the field... What Pape did does not honour Africa.

"He had already started in the [pre-match] press conference. He 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.

"That didn’t help Brahim. That doesn’t excuse Brahim for the way he hit the penalty. He hit it like that and we have to accept it. We were one minute from being African champions. That’s football. It’s often cruel. We missed what for some was the opportunity of a lifetime."