FIFA President Gianni Infantino has publicly condemned “some Senegal players” for the controversial walk-off that marred Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, even as the team went on to claim a dramatic 1-0 victory over hosts Morocco.
The final, held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat before a crowd of 66,526, descended into chaos in injury time of regular play. With the score locked at 0-0, Morocco were awarded a penalty following a VAR review for a challenge on Brahim Diaz. In protest, most Senegalese players briefly left the pitch while fans at the opposite end clashed with Moroccan security personnel.
The match was eventually resumed, and Diaz’s weak penalty attempt was saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Extra time saw Pape Gueye score the decisive goal, securing Senegal’s second AFCON title and leaving the home fans stunned.
In a statement sent to AFP, Infantino said:
“We strongly condemn the behaviour of some ‘supporters’ as well as some Senegalese players and technical staff members. 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.”
The FIFA president praised Morocco for its hosting, describing the tournament as a successful rehearsal for their co-hosting of the 2030 Men’s World Cup. However, he warned that the incidents risked tarnishing the image of African football globally.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui echoed similar concerns, stating:
“The image we gave of African football was rather shameful. Having to stop the game for more than 10 minutes with the world watching is not very classy.”
Infantino appeared careful not to single out Senegal’s star Sadio Mane, who stayed on the pitch and encouraged his teammates to return. Senegal players had initially protested the disallowance of a goal minutes earlier and walked off due to a perceived “feeling of injustice.” Gueye explained:
“Just before the penalty we thought we should have had a goal and the referee didn’t go to VAR. Sadio told us to come back on and we re-mobilised.”
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw also issued an apology, acknowledging that instructing the team to leave the field was a mistake:
“After thinking about it, I realised that I shouldn’t have asked them to go off. I apologise for that. Sometimes you can react in the heat of the moment.”
Infantino stressed that respect for match officials’ decisions is essential:
“We must always respect the decisions taken by the match officials on and off the field of play… because anything less puts the very essence of football at risk. It is also the responsibility of teams and players to act responsibly and set the right example for fans in the stadiums and millions watching around the world.”
He concluded by urging CAF to take appropriate disciplinary action:
“The ugly scenes witnessed today must be condemned and never repeated… I expect that the relevant disciplinary bodies at CAF will take the appropriate measures.”
The dramatic events serve as a reminder of the high stakes and intense passions of international football, while highlighting FIFA’s ongoing call for discipline and respect on and off the pitch.
