Senegal national team coach Pape Thiaw says he will publish a social media video on 17 May presenting what he described as his “own version” of the controversial events surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
The announcement comes as the fallout from the tournament’s final continues to divide opinion across African football following Senegal’s dramatic withdrawal from the pitch during the match against hosts Morocco in Rabat.
The incident caused a delay of nearly 15 minutes and drew widespread criticism, with many viewing the walk-off as damaging to the image of the competition.
According to Thiaw, the forthcoming video will provide viewers with a behind-the-scenes account of Senegal’s entire AFCON campaign, with particular attention given to a key sequence of events during the final.
Central to the dispute was a Senegal goal that was later disallowed for a foul. The decision came shortly before Morocco were awarded a penalty following a VAR review for an active foul on Brahim Diaz.
The penalty decision proved to be one of the defining moments of the match, with Thiaw initially refusing to accept the ruling. The disagreement ultimately escalated into Senegal’s temporary withdrawal from the field.
The coach’s decision to revisit the incident publicly represents a notable change in tone from his reaction immediately after the final in January.
Speaking during the post-match press conference at the time, Thiaw apologised for instructing his players to leave the pitch.
“I apologize for asking the players to leave the field… We shouldn’t have done that (withdrawal), but now we apologize to football.”
Despite that apology, the controversy surrounding the final has continued in the months since the tournament concluded.
In March, the Confederation of African Football’s Appeal Board ruled that Senegal would officially forfeit the final and awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory. The decision also confirmed that Morocco would be recognised as AFCON champions following the abandonment-related sanctions.
The ruling intensified tensions around the case and prompted Senegal to challenge the outcome at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Thiaw’s upcoming video is expected to revisit both the disallowed goal and the VAR-awarded penalty, incidents that remain at the centre of the dispute between the two football nations.
The coach has indicated that his version of events will aim to explain Senegal’s actions during the final and offer insight into the decisions made on the touchline during one of the most contentious moments in recent AFCON history.
The final itself had already carried major significance, with hosts Morocco seeking continental success on home soil while Senegal attempted to secure another major international title.
Instead, the match became overshadowed by the dispute over officiating decisions and the unprecedented interruption caused by Senegal’s walk-off.
The legal proceedings now under way at CAS mean the consequences of the final are likely to continue beyond the football pitch, keeping one of African football’s most controversial finals in the spotlight for months to come.
