The controversy erupted when Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty while the match was still 0-0. In the 98th minute, West Ham full-back El Hadji Malick Diouf brought down Morocco's Brahim Díaz, who went on to claim the tournament's Golden Shoe award.
Referee Jean Jacques Ndala awarded the penalty after consulting the pitchside monitor following a VAR recommendation.
Frustrated by an earlier decision that saw Senegal's goal disallowed, Thiaw told his players to walk off. Former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane stayed behind, pleading with teammates to return. After a 17-minute delay, play resumed.
Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye then scored in the fourth minute of extra time, securing Senegal's second AFCON title in five years. Gueye, named man-of-the-match, credited the team's focus after Morocco missed a penalty for helping them secure victory.
Reflecting on the incident, the Senegal coach says getting off the field was not a decision they agreed on.
"We didn't agree with the decision. I don't want to go over all the incidents. I apologise to football. After reflecting on it, I made them come back onto the pitch," he told beIN Sports.
"You can react in the heat of the moment. We accept the referee's decisions. We shouldn't have done it, but it's done, and now we present our apologies to football."
Senegal previously won the AFCON in 2022 after defeating Egypt, and Gueye described scoring the winning goal as a proud moment.
"Scoring in a final is a moment of pride for me," he said.
"I am very happy to score in the final, and most importantly, the Senegal national team now has a second star."
CAF president Patrice Motsepe has acknowledged that Morocco's hosting of the AFCON has set new standards for the tournament, while firmly dismissing concerns over East Africa's readiness to stage the 2027 edition.
Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has revealed his job was on the line in the Super Eagles' Africa Cup of Nations bronze-medal clash against Egypt.
Morocco's dream of lifting the AFCON on home soil ended in dramatic fashion on Sunday, but it was the chaotic scenes surrounding the final minutes that left coach Walid Regragui frustrated and disappointed.
Senegal coach Pape Bouna Thiaw found himself at the centre of post-match controversy after Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations final, as the drama from the pitch spilled into the press room.
