The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final concluded the day before yesterday with Senegal emerging champions after defeating hosts Morocco 1–0.
The debate that has lingered in the ears and minds of football fans across Africa and around the world is who deserves to be the hero of that match, which, despite producing a champion, was marred by unrest.
Is it Sadio Mané or his coach Pape Thiaw who should be credited, with one encouraging his teammates to return to the pitch after the chaos, while the other urged the players to walk off the field?
The key incident from that final, which will remain etched in the history of the tournament, occurred in the 98th minute when Senegal left the pitch and boycotted the match for 17 minutes.
The trigger was a decision by referee Jacques Ndala, who awarded Morocco a penalty after consulting VAR. Senegal’s Malick Diouf was accused of committing a foul on Morocco forward Brahim Díaz.
This decision prompted Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw to urge his players to leave the pitch entirely, complaining that they had been unfairly treated.
The only player who remained on the pitch was Sadio Mané, Senegal’s captain, who advised his teammates to return. After 17 minutes, they came back and agreed to continue the match.
Fortunately for Senegal, Brahim Díaz—who had scored five goals in the tournament—took the penalty, which was saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
After regulation time ended, an additional 30 minutes of extra time were played, during which Senegal emerged victorious with a 1–0 goal scored by their star Pape Gueye, sealing the trophy.
So, between the two, who deserves the praise—the coach who encouraged the players to leave the pitch and was obeyed, or Sadio Mané, who later followed them and urged them to return and continue the match, which they eventually won?
