SENEGAL boss Pape Thiaw stormed out of his press conference after being booed by furious Moroccan journalists.
Thiaw’s side controversially defeated hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra-time in Rabat to lift the Africa Cup of Nations for a second time.
That came after the boss, 44, had earlier ordered his team to walk off the pitch in protest at a controversial added-time penalty.
And, as he walked into press after the match, he was applauded by Senegalese reporters but jeered by the locals.
The scene then descended into chaos, as Thiaw walked out and refused to speak, despite being at the centre of the story.
With both sides having missed gilt-edged chances prior, the match really burst into life in stoppage time.
SEN ENOUGH
Afcon final chaos as Senegal boss orders stars off pitch after penalty decision
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Senegal thought they’d won it in the 92nd minute, only for the referee to have already blown up for a foul.
Abdoulaye Seck was adjudged to have shoved Achraf Hakimi, although E4 commentator Efan Ekoku called the decision “very soft”.
The Lions of Teranga’s frustrations then boiled over further into stoppage time, as Morocco were awarded a penalty following a lengthy VAR check after El Hadji Malick Diouf was deemed to have fouled Brahim Diaz.
Incensed, Thiaw remarkably ordered his players to leave the field in protest.
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During the delay, some supporters clashed with riot police as they appeared to attempt to enter the pitch.
Eventually, Senegal returned to the field – led by their leader Sadio Mane.
And amazingly, Diaz’s attempted Panenka from the spot was easily caught by Edouard Mendy 24 minutes into stoppage time – Morocco’s golden chance going begging.
The match subsequently entered extra time and it was previously aggrieved Senegal that found an extra gear.
Thiaw’s men took the lead via Pape Gueye’s brilliant strike four minutes into the extra period.
And the Lions of Teranga held on to win the Africa Cup of Nations for the second time in five years.
Due to Thiaw’s press conference being cancelled, reporters were not able to ask about his decision to take his players off the pitch.
Former Nigeria forward Ekoku, 58, had criticised the call on TV.
The ex-striker said of the penalty decision: “It was soft. It was foolish and reckless by El Hadji Malick Diouf, but the decision had been made and the players have to abide by that.
“You cannot do that [leave the pitch]. However aggrieved you feel at it you have got to let the referee and the rules [make the decision]… I have got some sympathy, but this is not a good look.”
In his own press conference, during which he faced calls to resign, Morocco boss Walid Regragui claimed that Thiaw’s actions did not “honour Africa”.
Not pulling any punches, Regragui said: “The image we’ve given of Africa is shameful. A coach who asks his players to leave the field … What Pape did does not honour Africa.
“He had already started in the [pre-match] press conference. He wasn’t classy. But he is a champion, so he can say whatever he wants.
“We stopped the match in the eyes of the world for 10 minutes. That didn’t help Brahim. That doesn’t excuse Brahim for the way he hit the penalty. He hit it like that and we have to accept it.
“We were one minute from being African champions. That’s football. It’s often cruel. We missed what for some was the opportunity of a lifetime.”
While his manager did not get to speak to the media, match-winner Gueye did.
“We were frustrated, but Sadio [Mane] told us to come back on the pitch to remobilise us,” the Villarreal star said. “We all saw what happened at the end.
“We took the decision to come back on the pitch to give everything – which we did.”