Senegal coach defends AFCON final walk-off before expected sanction

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by News AgenciesJanuary 22, 2026 at 06:20 PM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

Senegal's coach, Pape Thiaw, defended his team's walk-off during the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco on January 22, 2026, stating it was an emotional response to perceived bias after a disallowed goal and a penalty awarded to Morocco. The walk-off caused a 15-minute delay and involved fighting on the field and in the stands. Despite the disruption, Sadio Mane convinced the team to return, and Senegal ultimately won 1-0 in extra time. FIFA President Gianni Infantino criticized the walk-off, and the Moroccan Football Federation is pursuing legal action with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football, alleging the incident impacted the match's flow and player performance. Senegal now faces investigation and potential sanctions for their actions.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Pape Guaye 50% Gianni Infantino 50% Moroccan Football Federation 60% Sadio Mane 60% Brahim Díaz ×260% Confederation of African Football 60% FIFA ×270% Morocco ×480% Pape Thiaw ×280% Africa Cup of Nations ×290% Senegal ×790%

Keywords

afcon final 100% senegal walk-off 90% penalty 70% morocco 60% pape thiaw 60% fifa 50% legal action 50% match officials 40% sportsmanship 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.20

Source Transparency

Source

Al Jazeera

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Senegal

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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afcon final senegal walk-off penalty morocco pape thiaw fifa legal action match officials sportsmanship

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