Showing posts with label AFCON. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AFCON. Show all posts
Tuesday, 13 October 2026
Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Tuesday, 29 September 2026
SALAH WALKS, HASSAN TALKS - AND EGYPT HAVE A PROBLEM
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| Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, left, will not play in the next game against South Sudan, something coach Hossam Hassan, right, said was already agreed. Getty Images / Reuters |
Pharaohs head coach has gone from hero to headache as he attempted to walk back criticism of Shenawy and the Egyptian league while questions remain over whether Salah will return
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan went into full damage control mode on Monday while talking to reporters ahead of the Pharaohs’ Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan.
Hassan walked back many of the statements that landed him in hot water with fans, pundits, and even his own players over the past week.
Just two months after he was given a hero’s welcome alongside the Egyptian squad that made a historic run to the last-16 at the 2026 World Cup, Hassan went through a nightmare four-day media storm due to ill-advised comments made during press conferences, a sub-par 0-0 performance against Angola, and the seemingly surprising departure of Mohamed Salah from training camp.
What did Hassan say?
At his pre-match press conference ahead of the Angola game in Cairo on Thursday, Hassan was quizzed about the absence of Mohamed El Shenawy, the Al Ahly goalkeeper and one of the Egyptian national team’s captains, from his squad.
Hassan did not appreciate his decisions being questioned and implied that at some point El Shenawy’s career was “finished” before he managed to revive it through the national team – comments that were interpreted by many as offensive to a player who has earned 76 caps and was Egypt’s first-choice goalkeeper for many years before his teammate Mostafa Shobeir came to the fore this summer.
“Mohamed El Shenawy at one point was finished, and was not playing with his club, yet he returned to his level through the work we did with him with the national team. Not just him, but other players as well,” said Hassan, who has also taken credit for bringing Emam Ashour back to form after illness.
“This was our point of view this time, regardless of whether he [El Shenawy] is injured or not. All respect to all the players, especially since Mohamed El Shenawy is one of the captains of the Egypt national team, and I value him. But this is my choice. I could have made my life easier by saying he is injured. But even if he isn’t injured, this is my choice. It’s high time we trust each other.”
"محمد صلاح من أهم لاعبي العالم.. وفضلنا إراحته بسبب أرضية النجيل الصناعي" 🇪🇬
حسام حسن خلال المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص بمباراة مصر وجنوب السودان 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/rONfeAm2s2
— EFA.eg (@EFA) September 28, 2026
Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abou Rida and Al Ahly, both released statements in support of El Shenawy following Hassan’s press conference.
Other comments that caused great ire among the Egyptian public were Hassan’s views on the Egyptian Premier League, the domestic league that typically provides almost 90 per cent of the players for the national team.
“I wish that the domestic league becomes strong. Looking at the league, do you see any team or any club in the league that has a good technical level? Name one star or one team from the league that you believe can add value or improve the level of the national team,” said Hassan on Thursday.
“Players come to us [at the national team], they improve, and then they return to their clubs. What’s supposed to happen is that they improve at their clubs and they come to us ready and in good shape. So we are truly suffering.
“I hope that all the big and respected clubs in the league can play football at a higher level and can increase the physical conditioning of the players. Because that will ultimately help the national team. Because I don’t have enough time with the players.”
The statements dominated the news cycle on the eve of the Angola game, and things worsened when Egypt were held to a goalless draw at Cairo International Stadium in a homecoming game that saw Hassan inexplicably substitute Salah in the 60th minute.
Hassan later said in the post-game press conference that his decision to take off Salah was for “technical reasons”.
The following morning, news broke that Salah had left the national team camp, despite there being two more games scheduled for this international break – an Afcon qualifier against South Sudan in Juba on Tuesday and a friendly against South Africa back in Cairo on October 4.
Hassan surprised reporters by saying he had nothing to do with arranging the South Africa game and the EFA decided to add it to the agenda; another indication that not everyone is on the same page within the national team ecosystem.
Statements and reaction
Following Salah’s departure, the EFA released a statement saying it was a prearranged decision, made before the Angola game, by the national team's technical staff.
The reason given was that the South Sudan game would be played on an artificial pitch, which, potentially, could increase the Trabzonspor star's risk of injury.
Despite the EFA’s statement, football insiders reported that there was more to Salah’s departure and that he left because of the unrest within the team, caused by Hassan’s comments and actions.
The situation has dominated every news outlet in Egypt since Saturday morning, with many describing it as a “crisis”.
Former Egypt and Tottenham striker Mido said on X he found Hassan’s statements to be “narcissistic”, while ex-Zamalek and Egypt forward Shikabala criticised the coach’s defensive strategy in a home game against Angola and said Hassan was being “stubborn”.
“He wants people to say that ‘I am the one who benched [Omar] Marmoush, I am the one who pulled Salah’. Why would I take off Salah in the 60th minute? What technical part of the game is Salah incapable of doing? Salah sat on a rock [in Turkey]; it became a touristic landmark,” Shikabala added, speaking on MBC Masr.
Another former Zamalek and Egypt star, Hazem Emam, questioned Hassan’s decisions, which he said had divided people rather than united them, and said they were unnecessary given the fanfare and goodwill that surrounded Hassan and the team after their World Cup heroics.
“Captain Hossam, you are a very big player and a very big coach, but you must admit that you have an issue with the statements you make in press conferences. It causes you lots of problems and it ruins all the good work you’ve done. What’s the use of publicly targeting two great players on your own team? It’s so unnecessary,” Emam said on On Sport.
“Captain Hossam has a big problem. He always feels underappreciated; that no one appreciates his work, and I don’t know why. As a player, everyone considered him a legend of the Egyptian game, and at the World Cup, people said he is the best coach to ever manage Egypt.
"I don’t know why he finds the need to recount all of his achievements over and over again. Let the people list your achievements instead. Why take credit for El Shenawy? Why describe him as finished? Why say Emam Ashour would have spent a year recovering from a virus had it not been for you? He plays for a club and it’s normal that the clubs are the ones that prepare their players.
“Calling the league poor, that really upset me. And he would have been upset had he been coaching in the league and someone said that. Ninety per cent of your players are from the league. He shouldn’t say these things.”
Acclaimed TV host and media personality Amr Adib said Hassan went from “national hero to national problem” in the span of 48 hours.
"حديثي عن تصريحات محمد الشناوي فهم خطأ.. وأحترم
الجميع" 🇪🇬
حسام حسن خلال المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص بمباراة مصر وجنوب السودان 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/HvPJjJyucU
— EFA.eg (@EFA) September 28, 2026
Amid this media storm, Hassan addressed reporters in Juba on Monday and clarified his previous statements.
He said his comments on El Shenawy were “misinterpreted” and that he was simply referring to the goalkeeper’s previous shoulder injury that kept him out for some time.
He also insisted that Salah’s departure was prearranged and that it wasn’t the first time the former Liverpool star had skipped games played on artificial grass, citing past fixtures against Cape Verde and Mauritania as examples.
“There is no conflict,” Hassan assured. “We are in our best state right now. We just got back from the World Cup; this was our first game back.”
The National's view
Hassan claims Salah will be back with the team for the South Africa game on home soil on Sunday, but that remains to be seen.
The EFA, at least publicly, seems to be behind Hassan, who, together with his twin brother Ibrahim, the director of the national team, has renewed his contract until 2030.
Victory against South Sudan on Tuesday will be essential for the noise around the head coach to die down, who has already shown great restraint in his rhetoric during the pre-game press conference in Juba.
As Emam mentioned, Hassan has spent too much time listing his accomplishments and should instead get back to letting the team’s form and results do the talking.
pic.twitter.com/I0YEi117lE
— EFA.eg (@EFA) September 28, 2026
What the Pharaohs were able to achieve in North America over the summer was unprecedented, and it raised the hopes and expectations of 120 million Egyptian fans, who are now dreaming of African glory and further success on the global stage.
Egypt’s Afcon qualification journey had an ominous start, but there is still time to course-correct and get back on track.
What’s important to remember is that the Egyptian national team is not a vanity project and should never be treated as such. Decisions should be based on merit, not personal feelings, but that doesn’t mean words don’t matter and feelings can’t be hurt.
The South Sudan game may not be make-or-break for Egypt’s Afcon ambitions, but it certainly bears a lot of weight for Hassan’s second term with the Pharaohs.
- Reem Abulleil
Friday, 28 August 2026
AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS (𝗔𝗙𝗖𝗢𝗡) 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 | 𝗢𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡!
CAF invites qualified companies and service providers to join the official tender process for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania & Uganda.
Wednesday, 20 May 2026
NIGERIA/MADAGASCAR: AFCON 2027 QUALIFIERS - SUPER EAGLES TO FACE MADAGASCAR, TANZANIA, G-BISSAU
Nigeria's quest to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations received a major boost yesterday after the Super Eagles were drawn against familiar foes Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau in the qualifying series for the continental tournament.
The draw ceremony was held at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association in Cairo, Egypt, where the continent's national teams discovered their opponents for the qualification campaign.
The Nigeria national football team, now under the guidance of head coach Éric Chelle, were placed among the seeded teams for the draw following their strong standing in African football rankings. Their seeded status ensured they avoided several of the continent's traditional heavyweights in the preliminary phase.
On paper, the group appears favourable for the three-time African champions, with many Nigerian football observers expecting the Super Eagles to secure qualification without major difficulty. However, the draw also presents potentially tricky encounters against opponents capable of causing surprises.
Guinea-Bissau, in particular, has become a familiar foe for Nigeria in recent years. The West Africans have faced the Super Eagles in previous AFCON qualifying campaigns and earned a reputation as a disciplined and difficult side to break down.
Tanzania, one of the co-hosts of the 2027 tournament, will also be eager to impress despite already being assured of participation in the finals as hosts. Their growing football profile and home support could make them dangerous opponents during the qualifiers.
Madagascar, meanwhile, remain one of African football's unpredictable sides. The island nation stunned the continent during the 2019 AFCON in Egypt when they reached the quarter-finals in their maiden appearance at the tournament, defeating more fancied teams along the way.
Only the top two teams from the group will qualify automatically for the 2027 AFCON finals, increasing the importance of every fixture in the round-robin campaign.
The qualification series will be played across three FIFA international windows. Matchdays one and two are scheduled to hold between September 21 and October 6, 2026, while matchdays three and four will take place from November 9 to 17, 2026.
The final round of fixtures, comprising matchdays five and six, will be played between March 22 and 30, 2027, bringing the qualification race to a close.
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations itself will make history as the first edition of the tournament to be jointly hosted by three countries -- Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
The tournament is scheduled to run from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
For Nigeria, the objective remains clear: qualify convincingly and mount a serious challenge for a fourth AFCON title after falling short in recent editions. With a squad packed with established internationals and emerging talents, expectations will be high for the Super Eagles to dominate the group and head to East Africa as one of the favourites for the continental crown.
- Affa Acho
Monday, 30 March 2026
CAF SECRETARY GENERAL RESIGNS AMID AFCON FINAL FALLOUT
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| AFP via Getty Images |
The general secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has resigned amid a chaotic time for football on the continent.
Veron Mosengo-Omba said in a statement he was retiring, but his departure comes during the fallout over decisions to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and postpone the women's tournament at the last minute.
These incidents have left CAF, the governing body for African football, battling a crisis of confidence.
Mosengo-Omba alluded to controversies faced during his tenure in his statement on Sunday.
"Now that I have been able to dispel the suspicions that some people have gone to great lengths to cast on me, I can retire with peace of mind and without constraint, leaving the CAF more prosperous than ever," Mosengo-Omba, deputy to Caf president Patrice Motsepe, wrote.
The 66-year-old has been criticised for staying on as general secretary past the organisation's mandatory retirement age of 63.
He has also been accused by some employees of creating a toxic atmosphere in the workplace, although an investigation after staff complaints cleared him of any wrongdoing.
Mosengo-Omba, who hails from the Democratic Republic of Congo but also holds Swiss nationality, was appointed general secretary in March 2021.
According to news agency Reuters, Caf's competitions director, Samson Adamu, will take over as acting general secretary.
The governing body is awaiting a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Senegal's appeal against being stripped of the Afcon title.
Senegal is challenging CAF's appeals body for overturning their 1-0 win over hosts Morocco in January's Afcon final.
During the game, Senegal's players left the field in protest when, with the score at 0-0, hosts Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty.
When they returned after a delay of about 17 minutes, Morocco subsequently failed to score the spot-kick and Senegal netted an extra-time winner.
Following an appeal by the Moroccan FA (FRMF), Caf later ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match and Morocco were awarded a 3-0 victory.
- Wedaeli Chibelushi
Thursday, 19 March 2026
FORMER AFCON-WINNING COACH TAKES AIM AT MOTSEPE OVER AFCON DECISION
Veteran coach Claude Le Roy has criticised Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe following the decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
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| Motsepe 'Attacked' Over 2025 AFCON Decision. Photo: Gallo Images |
CAF confirmed that the 2025 AFCON title would be awarded to Morocco after Senegal were deemed to have forfeited the final by walking off the pitch in protest over a penalty awarded to the Atlas Lions.
The decision has sparked widespread backlash, and with the controversy ongoing, Le Roy has now voiced his strong opposition.⁸
According to WiW Sport, the Frenchman described the ruling as “incomprehensible” and was particularly critical of Motsepe.
"I couldn't imagine for a second that the CAF could go so far down this path of absurdity," Le Roy said.
"But when you see how the CAF is run today by Patrice Motsepe, who is essentially Gianni Infantino's lackey, you understand certain things better. From the start, some were determined to give the cup to Morocco. Yet, even though Morocco had a very good AFCON and deserved to go far in the competition, in the final, it was clearly Senegal who were the better team. No one could have imagined that we would hear such a decision two months later," he added.
The 78-year-old suggested the matter is far from resolved and believes further developments are likely, including the possibility of Senegal being reinstated as champions.
"We're in the middle of an election period, so we can imagine all sorts of things happening, only to ultimately decide that Morocco is the champion," Le Roy explained.
"I think this isn't over yet, and Senegal will eventually have its rights restored. But, once again, it's a disgrace to the image of the Confederation of African Football. I think that, initially, there will be an appeals committee, since this is a preliminary ruling," the former Ghana national football team coach continued.
"Then, depending on the outcome, the case could be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. But I fear that this decision, unfortunately for a continent with so much potential, will be a laughingstock for the entire football world," he concluded.
- Matthew Petersen
Wednesday, 18 March 2026
SENEGAL STRIPPED OF AFCON TITLE, MOROCCO DECLARED CHAMPIONS
Senegal say they will appeal after they were sensationally stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title on Tuesday and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) instead declared Morocco champions
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| Senegal stripped of AFCON title AFP |
Senegal say they will appeal after they were sensationally stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title on Tuesday and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) instead declared Morocco champions, two months after their chaotic final. Several Senegalese players controversially walked off the pitch in Rabat during the final on January 18 in protest when the hosts were awarded a penalty late in second-half stoppage time. After Senegal's players eventually returned having been coaxed back onto the pitch by captain Sadio Mane, Morocco missed the penalty and Pape Gueye went on to score the goal in extra time that gave his team a 1-0 victory.
CAF said that having studied Morocco's appeal, "the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the match" and the result was "officially recorded as 3-0" in favour of Morocco.
The CAF Appeals Committee justified its decision by applying Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON Regulations, which state that if a team "refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorisation of the referee, it shall be considered (loser) and shall be eliminated for good from the current competition".
The articles add that the team contravening the regulations "will lose its match by 3-0".
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said in a statement its appeal "was never intended to contest the sporting performance of the teams participating in this competition, but solely to request the application of the competition regulations".
"The Federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, to the clarity of the competitive framework, and to the stability of African competitions," the statement added.
Senegal's football authorities said they will appeal "as soon as possible" to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
"The Senegalese Football Federation condemns this unjust, unprecedented and unacceptable decision, which brings African football into disrepute," it said in a statement.
Chaotic scenes
Minutes before the end of the match, some Senegalese supporters attempted a pitch invasion, while Senegal's players halted the game for nearly 20 minutes to protest the late penalty awarded to Morocco.
The controversial spot-kick was awarded by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala right at the end of the allotted eight added minutes in normal time following a VAR check for a challenge on Brahim Diaz by El Hadji Malick Diouf.
The game was goalless at the time and Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with the spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time.
But Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted 'Panenka' chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
The game at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium then went to extra time, and Gueye's brilliant 94th-minute strike won it for Senegal.
Several of the team's players posted on social media after the announcement that they had been stripped of the title.
Defender Moussa Niakhate, who plays for French club Lyon, posted a picture of himself lifting the Africa Cup of Nations trophy with a message that said "they're mad", in an apparent reference to CAF.
In the immediate aftermath of the final, FIFA president Gianni Infantino had condemned "some Senegal players" for the "unacceptable scenes".
"It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner, and equally, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport, it is simply not right," Infantino, who attended the match, said.
In late January, CAF imposed a series of disciplinary sanctions, including fines amounting to several hundred thousand euros, on the federations of both countries for unsportsmanlike conduct and violations of fair play principles.
The appeal trial of 18 Senegalese supporters, imprisoned since the final and sentenced to prison terms ranging from three months to one year for "hooliganism," which was scheduled to take place on Monday, has been postponed until March 30.
- Agence-France Presse
Thursday, 5 February 2026
VICTOR WANYAMA EXPLAINS HOW BENNI MCCARTHY CAN LEAD HARAMBEE STARS TO AFCON 2027 GLORY
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| Victor Wanyama feels Harambee Stars can surprise at AFCON 2027. |
Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama is backing Kenya to surprise at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations due to a number of factors.
Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has shared what gives him confidence of a successful 2027 Africa Cup of Nations for Kenya.
Kenya will be one of the co-hosts for AFCON 2027 alongside neighbours Kenya and Uganda and there is pressure to impress on home soil.
However, history suggests it might be a struggle to get out of their group given they have never gone past that level at all their previous six AFCON appearances.
Wanyama, however, feels Kenya do have enough quality and can spring a surprise when heavily motivated and pushed on by fans as seen during the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN 2024).
What is Wanyama Banking on For AFCON Success?
“We hosted CHAN, and nobody expected the local players to perform the way they did. That showed that with fans behind them at home, anything is possible,” Wanyama said on the Obi One Podcast.
“I believe in the boys; they have quality, and with proper training and preparation, they can beat any team on home soil.
The former Southampton and Tottenham midfielder is calling on early and proper preparation for the national team ahead of the continental tournament if Kenya have to post positive results.
“With good preparation and the same spirit they showed during CHAN, coupled with the support they received then, we have the potential to be the best,” he further said.
CHAN Experience Will Be Vital For Kenya
“We need to invest in infrastructure, give young players opportunities, focus on grassroots football, establish strong and well-structured youth leagues, and support academies. That is how we can develop many quality players.”
Kenya had an impressive run at CHAN 2024, when they finished top of a group that had Morocco, eventual winners of the competition, DR Congo, Angola and Zambia, making it to the quarter-final where they lost to Madagascar on post-match penalties.
Identical 1-0 wins against DR Congo, Morocco and Zambia, coupled with a 1-1 draw with Angola saw Benni McCarthy’s team finish top of a ‘Group of Death’ that few gave them a chance of getting out of.
- Joel Omotto
Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Monday, 26 January 2026
Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Tuesday, 20 January 2026
'FAIR PLAY' MAN OF THE TOURNAMENT | PEPE THIAW | SALUTE 🫡
CAF needs to be accountable for the poor officiating of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Morocco 25 was one of the best AFCON displays of amazing and high level soccer talent only to be stained by 'bias' and poor officiating.
One man made a bold statement for the injustices that have pegged the tournament.
Salute 🫡 Pepe Thiaw for standing up!
Kudos Senegal 🇸🇳
Monday, 19 January 2026
'SHAMEFUL': HOW CONTROVERSIAL AFCON FINAL DESCENDED INTO TOTAL CHAOS
Senegal players stormed off the pitch after last-gasp penalty award before returning to beat Morocco in extra time
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| MAYHEM: THE AFCON FINAL BETWEEN MOROCCO AND SENEGAL WILL LIVE LONG IN THE MEMORY - FOR THE WRONG REASONS AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES |
A missed Panenka in the 24th minute of stoppage time, a team storming off the pitch and ultimately a second Africa Cup of Nations title for Senegal.
That, though, barely scratches the surface in telling the story of a truly extraordinary AFCON final on Sunday night.
Pape Gueye scored a brilliant extra-time winner to leave Morocco devastated in front of their home fans in Rabat.
Either side of that strike, total chaos ensued. Here’s what happened - and all the fallout.
Senegal goal ruled out
For 90 minutes, it had been a typical cagey, tense final. It remained goalless heading into eight minutes of stoppage time, at which point the mayhem began.
Senegal thought they had won it when Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr nodded into the net on the rebound after Abdoulaye Seck's header had hit the woodwork.
However, the whistle had already gone as the referee deemed Seck to have fouled Achraf Hakimi.
Replays showed that to be a harsh decision, with Hakimi going down under minimal contact, but the quick whistle meant that VAR could not intervene.
Morocco lucky to get penalty
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| DRAMA: BRAHIM DIAZ’S LAST-GASP PANENKA PENALTY ATTEMPT WAS EASILY SAVED BY EDOUARD MENDY AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES |
A few minutes later, Morocco won a corner of their own at the other end.
West Ham’s El Hadji Malick Diouf headed to safety, having beaten Brahim Diaz to the ball. Diaz went down theatrically and appealed for a penalty.
The referee was sent to the pitchside monitor for a VAR review and then gave the penalty, deciding that Diouf had dragged Diaz to the ground before clearing the ball.
Chaos on and off the pitch
The two benches were already clashing as the referee went to the screen and that escalated when he then pointed to the spot.
Ismaila Sarr was booked for dissent and the Senegal players did not leave the penalty area as they continued to protest the decision.
Senegal's supporter group were sat at the other end of the stadium but they began jumping over the hoardings. Others threw chairs at stewards.
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| SENEGAL FANS CLASH WITH SECURITY DURING THE AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS FINAL AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES |
Riot police arrived on the scene and dragged several supporters away as clashes continued between fans and security personnel.
Gary Lineker was in the stadium and said it had "all got very horribly violent".
Senegal players walk off
Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw was incensed by the decision to award a penalty and waved at his players to come off the pitch in response.
The match was delayed for around 17 minutes as a result, with Sadio Mane having to go down the tunnel to urge his team-mates to come back on.
It appeared to be in doubt whether Senegal would return, but eventually the decision was made to continue the match.
Mane said after the game: "The referee can sometimes make mistakes, but we don’t know.
“We’re in the game and people judge. It could have been a penalty or not, but that wasn’t the most important thing. The most important thing was the people who were watching.
“I think that would convey a negative image of our football. I think Africa today does not deserve that.”
Diaz fluffs his lines
It was the 114th minute of the match by the time Diaz finally got his chance to step up and take the penalty.
On his return to the pitch, Edouard Mendy was booked for seemingly scuffing the spot. The ex-Chelsea goalkeeper then walked up and stood over the ball as Diaz waited to take the penalty.
Had he converted it, Diaz would have been a Moroccan legend forever. Instead, he attempted a Panenka and watched in horror as Mendy stood still and made the easiest save of his life.
Battle for a towel
Yehvann Diouf had a busy night and did not play a single minute.
The Senegal goalkeeper was tasked with protecting Mendy's towel in wet, slippery conditions. It turned into an extraordinary sequence of events.
The Moroccan ball boys repeatedly tried to snatch the towel away from him. In one incident, Diouf was lying on his stomach with the towel underneath him as a ball boy dragged him by the back of his coat.
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| SENEGAL COACH PAPE THIAW ORDERED HIS PLAYERS OFF THE PITCH IN REMARKABLE SCENES AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES |
Diouf was eventually chased down the touchline, backpedaling as several people chased after him.
Hakimi threw another one of Mendy's towels over the advertising hoardings, with El Hadji Malick Diouf jumping over the barrier to retrieve it.
How the managers reacted
Morocco boss Walid Regragui was unsurprisingly scathing in his response to Senegal storming off the pitch. He hit out at counterpart Thiaw.
“The image we’ve given of Africa is shameful," Regragui said.
"A coach who asks his players to leave the field... what Pape did does not honour Africa.”
Thiaw walked into his press conference and was met by cheers from Senegalese journalists and boos from the Moroccan press.
Arguments broke out between them as Thiaw sat down waiting, before he decided to walk out without speaking as the confrontations continued.
Elsewhere, Thiaw said sorry for leading his players off the pitch.
"I apologise for the football,” he said. “After reflecting on it I made them come back [on the pitch] - you can react in the heat of the moment. We accept the errors of the referee.
“We shouldn't have done it but it's done and now we present our apologies to football."
What else has been said?
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said: “It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner, and equally, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport, it is simply not right.”
CAF released a statement on Monday morning in response to the various incidents, with punishments on the way.
It read: "The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) condemns the unacceptable behaviour of some players and officials during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Final between Morocco and Senegal in Rabat last night.
"CAF strongly condemns any inappropriate behaviour which occurs during matches, especially those targeting the refereeing team or match organizers.
"CAF is reviewing all footage and will refer the matter to competent bodies for appropriate action to be taken against those found guilty."
- MATT VERRI
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