Senegal’s decision to storm off the pitch during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final came in the heat of the moment but football won in the end, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy told reporters after the Teranga Lions beat Morocco 1-0 on Sunday.
Senegal left the field in protest at a penalty awarded to them in stoppage time at the end of the 90 minutes, before returning to beat the hosts with Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner.
«We are not going to talk in the heat of the moment. Things have happened, but in the end what matters is that football won,» Mendy said of the farcical scenes in which Senegalese coach Pape Bouna Thiaw ordered his players off the field and talisman Sadio Mane persuaded them to return.
«Morocco has been waiting for this trophy for more than fifty years. They did everything for it, but we responded in our own way, and tonight we celebrate Senegal,» Mendy added.
«We were determined to win this final, to take the trophy home. Millions of Senegalese are happy, and we are going to enjoy this.»
“We must put this controversy behind us,” he said, although there will likely be a heavy punishment for Senegal, who spoiled an otherwise impressive month-long tournament.
Mendy saved Brahim Diaz’s Panenka-esque penalty that should have won the match for Morocco. It took 14 minutes from the time the kick was awarded following a VAR review for Diaz to take the kick.
«He tried the Panenka, but I stayed up. We kept the team in the game and I helped my team at that moment,» Mendy explained.
The goalkeeper was among the players who entered the dressing room as part of the protest before Mane convinced them to return.
«What did we say to each other? That’s between us. We did it together and we got back together, that’s all that matters. We can be proud tonight,» Mendy added.
Published on January 19, 2026
