Sadio Mane, captain of Senegal, has revealed he personally convinced his team to return to the pitch after a dramatic walkout during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, stating he would "rather lose" than abandon a match.
The tense final against Morocco descended into chaos in the 94th minute when a controversial penalty was awarded to Morocco after a VAR review. Senegal's players and coaching staff protested vehemently, arguing a disallowed goal earlier in the match should have stood. Head coach Pape Thiaw called his players off the field into the dugout, pausing the game for nearly 20 minutes.
Facing the possibility of a forfeit, Mane intervened, urging his teammates to return to play. "I think it would be crazy to not play this game... I think that would be the worst thing, especially in African football," the 33-year-old forward said after the match.
Mane emphasized the importance of football's image, noting the global audience. "Football is something special, the world was watching... we have to give a good image for football," he explained.
Morocco's Brahim Diaz missed the contentious penalty, and the match went into extra time, where Senegal's Pape Gueye scored a winning goal to secure the nation's second AFCON title. Mane was named Player of the Tournament for his leadership and performance.
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