By Daily Sports Nigeria on January 20, 2026

Morocco head coach Walid Regragui criticised the referee’s performance after his side were beaten by Senegal in a dramatic Africa Cup of Nations final, insisting his team had done enough to win before controversial late decisions altered the course of the match.

After the loss, Regragui insisted his side had done enough to secure victory, but claimed the referee saw the game differently, describing the encounter as a final that unfolded like a “Hitchcockian script”.

“We did everything today, and we deserved to win, but the referee had a different opinion,” Regragui said, as he reflected on what he described as a final with a “Hitchcockian script”.

The match swung decisively in stoppage time when Senegal had a goal ruled out before Morocco were awarded a penalty following a video assistant referee review.

The decision prompted Senegal’s players to leave the pitch in protest, halting play for several minutes. When the game resumed, Brahim Díaz failed to convert the penalty, missing with a Panenka attempt, before Senegal went on to secure victory in extra time.

In the aftermath of the game, Regragui faced mounting criticism, with several journalists at the post-match press conference openly calling for his resignation, despite the coach overseeing a 26-match unbeaten run since guiding Morocco to the World Cup semi-finals.

The 49-year-old, however, defended his record and urged patience, saying, “To win the Africa Cup is not easy. We were very close, and so everybody is disappointed, but in football you need to come back strong, you need to accept what has happened, you need to be humble, and you need to work to do it, inshallah.”

Regragui was also particularly critical of Senegal coach Pape Thiaw over the walk-off, arguing that the incident reflected poorly on African football.

“The image we gave of Africa today. It’s a bit shameful. When a coach asks his players to leave the pitch,” he said.

“What Pape Thiaw did tonight does not honour Africa. It’s not classy, but it’s not a big deal. He’s African champion, so he has the right to say whatever he wants.”

Elaborating further in his post-match press conference, Regragui said the interruption had a direct impact on his players at a decisive moment.

“We stopped the match in the eyes of the world for 10 minutes. That didn’t help Brahim. That doesn’t excuse Brahim for the way he hit the penalty. He hit it like that, and we have to accept it,” he said.

“We were one minute from being African champions. That’s football. It’s often cruel. We missed what for some was the opportunity of a lifetime.”

The final, marked by controversy and high emotion, ended with Senegal lifting the trophy, while Morocco were left to reflect on a night of fine margins and decisions that, in Regragui’s view, denied them a long-awaited continental title.

Regragui was also particularly critical of Senegal coach Pape Thiaw over the walk-off, arguing that the incident reflected poorly on African football.

“The image we gave of Africa today. It’s a bit shameful. When a coach asks his players to leave the pitch,” he said.

“What Pape Thiaw did tonight does not honour Africa. It’s not classy, but it’s not a big deal. He’s African champion, so he has the right to say whatever he wants.”

Elaborating further in his post-match press conference, Regragui said the interruption had a direct impact on his players at a decisive moment.

“We stopped the match in the eyes of the world for 10 minutes. That didn’t help Brahim. That doesn’t excuse Brahim for the way he hit the penalty. He hit it like that, and we have to accept it,” he said.

“We were one minute from being African champions. That’s football. It’s often cruel. We missed what for some was the opportunity of a lifetime.”

The final, marked by controversy and high emotion, ended with Senegal lifting the trophy, while Morocco were left to reflect on a night of fine margins and decisions that, in Regragui’s view, denied them a long-awaited continental title.

Source Punch Ng

Posted January 20, 2026

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