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Senegal boss Pape Thiaw admits he "shouldn't" have ordered his players to leave the pitch amid a controversial penalty call with Morocco coach Walid Regragui claiming their actions do not "honour Africa".

The AFCON final descended into chaos late on as the Senegal players walked the pitch in protest after the hosts were awarded a stoppage-time penalty. West Ham star El Hadji Malick Diouf was pinned for a foul on Brahim Diaz as referee Jean-Jacques Ndala was called to VAR before awarding a spot kick.

Senegal's players - apart from Liverpool legend Sadio Mane - and their coaching staff ended up leaving the pitch and went back into the tunnel in protest.

After a huge delay they eventually returned after a staggering 17 minutes, but Morocco's moment of glory passed them by as the Real Madrid star tried a Panenka but ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saved it easily. Senegal would claim victory in extra-time but with a hint of regret.

Thiaw had his media briefing cancelled after issues in the press room, but told BeIN Sports that his reaction was wrong. He said: "We didn't agree. I don't want to go over all the incidents.

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"I apologise for the football. After reflecting on it I made them come back [on the pitch] - you can react in the heat of the moment. We accept the errors of the referee. We shouldn't have done it but it's done and now we present our apologies to football."

Thiaw's anger, particularly with the referee, stemmed from seeing the referee disallowing a goal from Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr, who had bundled home from close range earlier in the contest. Morocco coach Walid Regragui said Senegal's actions were "shameful" as his side missed out on a first AFCON title since 1976.

Senegal's victory in extra-time came courtesy of Pape Gueye's strike and means that Mane, who saw off Mohamed Salah and Egypt in the last four, claimed his second continental title.

He said: "Football is something special, the world was watching, so we have to give a good image for football. I think it would be crazy to not play this game because what, the referee gave a penalty and we go out of the game? I think that would be the worst thing especially in African football. I'd rather lose than this kind of thing happen to our football.

"I think it's really bad. Football should not stop for 10 minutes but what can we do? We have to accept what we did but the good thing is that we came back and we played the game and what happened happened."

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