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Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye has admitted that his team’s walk-off during the Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) final against Morocco was a mistake, reflecting on the controversial match in an interview on French television on Sunday.
Speaking about the incident, Gueye said the team realised their error and returned to the pitch, acknowledging, in his words, that “anyone can make a mistake.”
He credited the leadership of former Liverpool star Sadio Mane, who had stayed on the field and encouraged his teammates to keep playing. Gueye also noted Mane’s importance to the team, adding that they “owe him a big thank you.”
“He found the right thing to say at the right moment, and it shows just how important he is to us. We owe him a big thank you.”
Gueye also commented on Diaz’s missed penalty, describing it as a bold attempt that he himself would not have risked.
Gueye had scored the decisive goal as Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 in extra time in Rabat last week. The match reached a tense climax when Morocco was awarded a late penalty, prompting Senegal to briefly leave the field and delaying the game by about 20 minutes.
When play resumed, Brahim Diaz missed his penalty, and Gueye later scored in extra time to seal victory.
The Moroccan Football Federation has lodged a formal complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) over Senegal’s walkout and fan behaviour.
