Senegal face punishment after ‘shameful’ walk-off protest in chaotic Afcon final – latest | OneFootball

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Morocco coach Walid Regragui slams 'Hitchcockian' Afcon final scenes

The governing body of African football has confirmed it has opened disciplinary proceedings after Senegal players staged a mid-game walk-off during a chaotic end to the Africa Cup of Nations final.

The final in Rabat descended into chaos deep into stoppage time when hosts Morocco were awarded a penalty after a VAR review by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala as Diaz went down the box under the challenge of El Hadji Malick Diouf.

Senegal, who had an opening goal disallowed for a soft foul on Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi moments before, were outraged and the majority of the Senegal team, led by head coach Pape Thiaw, stormed off the pitch, leading to a 14-minute delay.

When Senegal were convinced to come back onto the pitch by talisman Sadio Mane, Diaz, with the chance to win the trophy for Morocco in the 24th minute of stoppage time, chipped his penalty softly down the middle – resulting in the easiest of saves for goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

The final then went to extra time, where Pape Gueye scored a stunning goal to win Senegal their second Africa Cup of Nations title in four years. Thiaw later apologised for his actions, but the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said it was reviewing footage and that disciplinary proceedings will follow, adding that it “condemns the unacceptable behaviour from some players and officials”.

Comment: The dangerous precedent set by Senegal’s ‘shameful’ Afcon final walk-off protest

It was the most monumental case of picking up your ball and going home in football history. Over the course of an extraordinary 16-minute exodus, Pape Thiaw and Senegal plunged the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations into infamy. Yet the toxicity has not been contained - next steps will be telling for the future of the competition, and perhaps for international football as a whole.

Comment by Will Castle:

The dangerous precedent set by Senegal’s ‘shameful’ Afcon final walk-off protest

Comment: Senegal’s circus in the Afcon final will require an emphatic response from football’s leaders to prevent the game from falling into a state of lawlessness

Will Castle19 January 2026 22:00