Senegal national team coach said his decision to order players to leave the pitch during the final minutes of the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco was driven by emotion and a sense of injustice, amid widespread criticism and the possibility of facing sanctions.
In a post, he attempted to clarify what happened after Senegal’s players left the field in protest of a penalty awarded to the host nation, Morocco, in the final minutes of regular time following a VAR review, before returning to resume the match.
He wrote: “We had an exceptional tournament with fantastic organization, but it unfortunately ended in tragedy. My intention was never to violate the principles of the game I love so much. I simply tried to protect my players from injustice. What some may see as a breach of the rules is merely an emotional reaction to a biased situation.”
The penalty was missed, sending the match into extra time where Senegal scored the winning goal 1-0, securing the title for the second time in the last three editions.
He added: “After discussions, we decided to resume the match and strive to win the cup for you. I apologize if I offended anyone, but football fans understand that emotion is an integral part of this sport.”
He praised his players, noting that they received bonuses exceeding $130,000 each, in addition to coastal land plots in recognition of their efforts.
A decision regarding potential sanctions against Senegal is expected in the coming days.
