El Hadji Diouf's 'Bonkers' Role in Senegal vs Morocco Peace Talks Revealed After Huge AFCON Controversy

The AFCON 2025 final between Senegal and Morocco descended into chaos, marked by fan riots, VAR disputes, a dramatic Senegal walkout, and simmering player tensions, ultimately won by Senegal in extra time.[1][2][3]

The match, held amid heightened rivalry, erupted when referee Jean-Jacques Ndala, following a VAR review, awarded Morocco a penalty after Senegal defender El Hadji Malik Diouf fouled Brahim Diaz in stoppage time. Enraged, Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw reportedly instructed his players to leave the pitch in protest, accusing Morocco of unsporting tactics—a claim he had voiced pre-match.[1][2]

As Senegalese players headed down the tunnel, only Sadio Mané remained as the designated peacemaker. Amid riot police quelling fan clashes in the stands, Mané consulted former coach Claude Le Roy and urged his teammates to return. Tensions boiled over with physical altercations, including a showdown between Senegal's Seck and Morocco's Ismael Saibari. Mané's calm leadership, praised as Nobel-worthy, remobilized Senegal, with midfielder Gueye crediting him: "Sadio told us to come back on the pitch, to remobilise us."[1]

The article unveils the 'bonkers' role of ex-Senegal star El Hadji Diouf (distinct from defender Malik Diouf) in post-match peace talks. Amid fears of irreparably damaged Morocco-Senegal relations, Diouf—known for his fiery personality—stepped in as an unlikely mediator. Leveraging his influence across African football, he facilitated heated but constructive discussions between officials, coaches, and players from both nations. Sources describe Diouf's interventions as "bonkers" yet pivotal: shuttling between aggrieved parties, cracking jokes to defuse anger, and brokering a truce that prevented further escalation. His efforts reportedly calmed Thiaw and Morocco's Walid Regragui, who lambasted the coach for lacking class.[1]

Senegal clinched victory with Gueye's extra-time thunderbolt, sparing a potentially tarnished penalty-decided outcome. Thiaw faces villain status, while Mané and Diouf emerge as heroes of reconciliation. The controversy underscores AFCON's passionate rivalries but highlights football's power to unite.[1][3]

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