Senegal’s talisman Sadio Mane has detailed his decision to lead his teammates back onto the pitch during Sunday’s chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco. The Lions of Teranga secured their second continental title with a 1-0 extra-time victory, but the match nearly ended prematurely when the Senegalese squad staged a walk-off protest. The controversy erupted late in the second half after referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded a last-minute penalty to the host nation following a foul on Brahim Diaz.
Displeased by the decision, the Senegalese players and coaching staff briefly abandoned the field of play, causing a nearly 20-minute delay. Mane remained on the sidelines, consulting with veteran figures such as French coach Claude Le Roy and former Senegal internationals El Hadji Diouf and Mamadou Niang.
After weighing their advice, the Al-Nassr forward actively persuaded his teammates to return and complete the fixture. His leadership proved pivotal, as Edouard Mendy subsequently saved the spot-kick, allowing Senegal to reach extra time and eventually clinch the trophy through a Pape Gueye strike.
During his post-match interview, Mane emphasized the importance of maintaining sportsmanship for the global audience watching the final. He noted that while officiating errors occur, abandoned matches damage the integrity of the sport. His intervention not only saved the match from a potential forfeiture but also galvanized his side to overcome the hostile atmosphere in Rabat. The victory marks a historic achievement for Senegal, who have now won two of the last three AFCON editions.
Mane stated during his post-match interview: “When they [my teammates] decided to go out and not play, I stayed and asked some people ‘what do you think about this, is it a good idea or not?’ Then, I decided to go and bring everyone back to the pitch. I think it is the best thing to do.
Because this is just football, I think the referee sometimes can make mistakes, but you can also be just, we don’t know, we are just in the game. People in the world can judge this, I don’t know, I think it could be a penalty or not. That is not important; what is more important is about the world watching this football, and it is not fair to stop a game like this.”
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