AFCON Final Controversy: Regragui Calls Senegal Protest “Shameful,” Says It “Does Not Honour Africa”

Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has strongly criticised Senegal and their coach, Pape Thiaw, over what he described as “shameful” behaviour during the closing moments of Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, insisting the incident “did not honour Africa.”

Regragui’s comments came after a dramatic and controversial final that Senegal went on to win in extra time, following a tense penalty incident late in normal time.

Morocco were handed a major opportunity to win the title deep into stoppage time when referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded a penalty after a VAR review for a challenge on Brahim Diaz by Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf, with the score still 0–0.

The decision triggered furious protests from Senegal, with several players walking off the pitch after Thiaw led them away in protest. Play was halted for almost 20 minutes before Diaz eventually took the penalty, but his attempted chip was easily saved, forcing the match into extra time.

Senegal later secured victory through a superb strike from Pape Gueye, lifting their second AFCON title.

Reacting after the match, Regragui condemned Senegal’s actions, saying they portrayed African football negatively.

“The image we’ve given of Africa is shameful. A coach who asks his players to leave the field … What Pape did does not honour Africa,” Regragui said.

“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.”

The Moroccan coach admitted the prolonged stoppage affected his players, particularly Diaz, but refused to place full blame for the missed penalty on the delay.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

Senegal’s match-winner Pape Gueye defended his team’s actions, explaining that the protest stemmed from a sense of injustice.

“What we felt was injustice. There had been a foul for us and the referee chose not to look at the VAR,” he said.

“We were frustrated, but Sadio [Mané] told us to come back on the pitch to remobilise us. We all saw what happened at the end. We took the decision to come back on the pitch to give everything – which we did.”

Despite Morocco’s impressive 26-match unbeaten run since Regragui guided them to the World Cup semi-finals, the coach came under heavy criticism after the defeat, with some journalists calling for his resignation. Regragui downplayed the criticism, urging patience and humility.

“To win the Africa Cup is not easy. We were very close. Everybody is disappointed, but in football you must accept what has happened, be humble and come back stronger,” he said.

“To win the Africa Cup is not easy. We were very close and so everybody is disappointed but in football, you need to come back strong, you need to accept what has happened, you need to be humble and you need to work to do it, inshallah.”

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