Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has strongly criticised the chaotic scenes that overshadowed Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final, describing them as an embarrassment to African football.
Speaking after Morocco’s painful 1–0 defeat to Senegal in Rabat, Regragui said the prolonged stoppage caused by protests from Senegal players sent the wrong message to the global audience watching the showpiece match.
“What the world saw was not a good reflection of African football,” Regragui said. “Stopping a final for more than ten minutes because players walked off the pitch is simply unacceptable.”
The controversy erupted deep into stoppage time at the end of normal play, with the score still locked at 0–0, when Morocco were awarded a penalty. Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala pointed to the spot after a VAR review ruled that Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf had fouled Brahim Diaz in the box.
The decision sparked fury among Senegal players, several of whom left the pitch in protest. Tensions spilled into the stands, where some Senegal supporters attempted to invade the field, clashing with stewards and throwing objects, forcing officials to halt the match for nearly 20 minutes.
When order was eventually restored, Diaz stepped up to take the penalty but failed to capitalise, attempting a delicate Panenka that was comfortably saved by the Senegal goalkeeper. The miss proved costly, as Senegal regrouped and went on to score the decisive goal in extra time to clinch the title.
Despite acknowledging the pressure of a high-stakes final, Regragui insisted that the disruptions overshadowed the occasion, calling for greater discipline and respect for the game at the highest level of African football.
