Sadio Mané explains defying Senegal’s coach Pape Thiaw’s order to leave the pitch after AFCON final

Senegal were left furious after Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty following a VAR review by referee Jean-Jacques Ndala, just moments after Ismaila Sarr had a goal ruled out for a soft foul. As head coach Pape Thiaw led the Teranga Lions off the pitch, Sadio Mané remained on the field and then eventually returned to the dressing room after speaking with former Senegal player El Hadji Diouf.

After appealing to his team-mates, Mané returned to the pitch and, following a delay of around 15 minutes, Brahim Diaz missed the chance to win the final for Morocco as his poorly executed Panenka penalty was saved by Edouard Mendy. Senegal then went on to triumph in extra time.

“I think it was the best thing to do because this is just football,” - Sadio Mané spoke about the chaotic situation after the match. “The referee sometimes can make mistakes, it can also be just…we don’t know. People will judge this. But it could be a penalty or not. But that’s not more important. More importantly, it’s about people who are watching; the world is watching this football.”

In the build-up to the final, Senegal endured a difficult period, with their governing body issuing a lengthy statement raising concerns over ticket allocation, security and training facilities. However, when it comes to leaving the pitch, Mané insists it should never be an option in a major tournament such as the AFCON:

"I think it was bad, the football should not even stop for ten minutes, but what can we do, and we just have to accept that we did it and that we returned to play the game."

Mané, the former Liverpool and Bayern Munich forward who now plies his trade at Al-Nassr alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League, ended the tournament with two goals and three assists. However, it was his leadership on and off the pitch that truly stood out, earning widespread praise across the football world and securing him the Player of the Tournament award.

"I can't complain and wish for more than that. I'm really happy, and it wasn't easy, but we fought from the beginning to the end and I felt that we deserved to win." Mané shared his feelings, showing how much the trophy meant to him.