<figure id="attachment_3266392" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3266392" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3266392" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/7f64cf6e-pape-gueye-25012026.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3266392" class="wp-caption-text">Pape Gueye scored the winning goal as Senegal edged Morocco 1-0 in extra time in a controversial game in Rabat last week. (AFP pic)</figcaption></figure>
PARIS: Senegal&#8217;s Pape Gueye opened up about his team&#8217;s walk-off at the Africa Cup of Nations final and Morocco&#8217;s subsequent missed penalty in an interview on French television on Sunday.
Gueye scored the winning goal as Senegal edged Morocco 1-0 in extra time in a controversial game in Rabat last week.
Morocco were awarded a late penalty, sparking a walk-off from the eventual winners, leading to a 20-minute delay.
When Senegal came back, Brahim Diaz fluffed his penalty, while Gueye scored the winner in extra time.
&#8220;We are only human, we realised our mistake and came back out,&#8221; said the 26-year-old midfielder Gueye.
&#8220;Anyone can make a mistake,&#8221; he added.
Gueye praised former Liverpool star Sadio Mane, who remained on the pitch and urged his teammates to return to the game for the penalty.
Senegal were already furious at having a goal disallowed for a soft-looking foul minutes earlier
&#8220;He found the right thing to say at the right moment and it shows just how important he is to us,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;We owe him a big thank you.&#8221;
Gueye also expressed surprise that Diaz dared attempt a panenka penalty that went badly wrong.
&#8220;It was daring and I would not have risked that myself,&#8221; he said.
The Moroccan Football Federation has formally referred the walkout and supporters&#8217; behaviour to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which organises Afcon, and Fifa.

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Pape Gueye praised Sadio Mane, who remained on the pitch and urged his teammates to return to the game for the penalty.

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