Morocco coach Walid Regraghi says Africa’s image is “shameful” after Senegal left the field during the Africa Cup of Nations final when they were awarded a penalty.
Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala pointed to the spot in stoppage time after a VAR review for Malik Diouf’s challenge on Brahim Diaz, prompting Senegal coach Pape Thiao, already unhappy with his side’s disallowed goal, to send his players to the dressing room.
Former Liverpool winger Sadio Mane ordered his Senegal team-mates back onto the pitch and when they did after 16 minutes of delay, Morocco’s Diaz saw his penalty saved by Edouard Mendy for Paneka to send the final into extra time.
Pape Gueie then scored Senegal’s winner and Morocco boss Regragui was left appalled by what he saw.
“The image we have given of Africa is shameful,” he said. “A coach who asks his players to leave the pitch… what Pape did disrespects Africa.”
“Thiav wasn’t classy. But he’s the champion, so he can say what he wants. We stopped the match in the eyes of the world for 10 minutes.”
Thiav said he regretted sending his players off the field.
“I don’t want to talk about all the incidents. I apologize for football,” he told BeIN Sports.
“After thinking about it, I got them back (on the pitch) – you can react in the heat of the moment.
“We accept the mistakes of the referee. We shouldn’t have done it, but it was done and now we apologize to football.”
Sadio Mane was lifted by his teammates
Mane added: “It would be a real shame and sad to see things like this, this scenario happen. Imagine, just imagine for a moment, if you go into the dressing room and the football game stops there. I think it would convey a negative image of our football; I don’t think Africa deserves that today.
“African football has evolved in an incredible way and the proof is that the whole world is following it. So for my part I did what I had to do, after I think we were a little lucky to have a goalkeeper like Edouard Mendy, who saved us once again, so otherwise, overall in the match, I think Senegal deserved to win.”
Senegal midfielder Lamine Kamara revealed Mane’s role in the rest of the match.
“We knew it was important to win this trophy today, we were all determined to win it thanks to Sadie and we saw what he did today, it’s just amazing,” he said.
“Well, we were in the dressing room, I was thinking of going with 10 others, I think only he (Mane) came in and shouted, shouting at us to come out and finish the match, so in the end he was right, we came out, we listened to him because when Sadio talks everyone listens, we listened to him for us and in the end it went well.