Morocco coach Walid Leglaghi said Africa’s image was “shameful” after Senegal were awarded a penalty and left the pitch in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala flagged the spot following a VAR check on Malick Diouf’s challenge on Brahim Dias in stoppage time, prompting Senegal coach Pape Thiau, already unhappy with his team’s canceled goal, to send his players to the dressing room.
Former Liverpool winger Sadio Mane instructed his Senegal team-mates to return to the pitch and, after a 16-minute delay, Morocco’s Dias had Paneca’s penalty saved by Edouard Mendy, sending the final into extra time.
Pape Gueye then scored the winning goal against Senegal, leaving Morocco coach Legulagui disgusted by the sight.
“The image we have given of Africa is shameful,” he said. “A coach asking his players to leave the field…Pape’s actions do not bring honor to Africa.
“Tiau wasn’t classy, but he’s a champion and he can say whatever he wants. He stopped the fight for 10 minutes with the world watching.”
Thiau said he regrets taking his players off the pitch.
He told BeIN Sports: “I don’t want to talk about the series of events. I apologize for football.”
“After reflecting, I let them come back (on the pitch). You can react with the intensity of the moment.
“We accept the referee’s mistake. We should not have done this, but it is over and we apologize to the football community.”
The Confederation of African Football condemned the “unacceptable behavior of some players and officials” during the final and said it was reviewing the footage before “referring the matter to the competent authorities to take appropriate action against those found guilty.”
Sadio Mane being lifted high by his teammates
Mane added: “It would be really unfortunate and sad if something like this happened, a scenario like this. Just imagine for a moment, you go into the locker room and the football match stops there. I think it gives a negative image of our football. I don’t think Africa today deserves something like that.”
“African football has evolved incredibly and it has proven that it is being watched around the world. So for me, I did what I had to do. I think we were also lucky that we had a goalkeeper like Edouard Mendy to save us again, so other than that, I think Senegal deserved to win the game overall.”
Senegalese midfielder Ramin Kamara revealed the role Mane played in restarting the match.
“We knew it was important to win this trophy today. We were all determined to win this trophy because of Sadio and we saw what he did today. It’s truly unbelievable,” he said.
“Well, we were in the locker room and we were going to go with 10 other people. I think he (Mane) was the only one who came in yelling. He was yelling to come out and finish the game. So in the end he was right. We went out and listened to him, because when Sadio speaks, everyone listens and listens to him and in the end it worked out.”
