Senegal's football team took home the title after a dramatic finish to Sunday's final against Morocco. With the score tied 0-0 in extra time, Senegal first had a goal disallowed. Shortly afterwards, Morocco was awarded a penalty after a VAR review.
This prompted several Senegalese fans to try to storm the pitch, while Senegal's national team captain Pape Thiaw ordered his players to leave the dressing room. A move that has been criticized at the highest levels.
“It is unacceptable to leave the field like that,” wrote Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, in a post on
“We must always respect the decisions made by the referees, both on and off the field.”
Senegal's players returned to the pitch after about 15 minutes, only to see Morocco's Brahim Díaz miss a penalty. The match went into extra time, where Pape Gueye scored for Senegal.
After the match, Pape Thiaw had to cancel his planned press conference after being booed by several Moroccan journalists.
Morocco's national team captain Walid Regragui also noted that the final was hardly a shining advertisement for African football.
"The image we presented of African football was shameful. Having to interrupt the match for more than ten minutes while the whole world is watching doesn't feel very elegant," Regragui said, according to AFP.
