Senegal coach under the spotlight after AFCON walk-off incident

Following a tense 1-0 extra-time victory over hosts Morocco, Thiaw was jeered and eventually walked out of his scheduled press conference, leaving journalists stunned.

The uproar stems from the contentious penalty awarded to Morocco in stoppage time, which triggered one of the most dramatic incidents in recent AFCON history.

Senegal players staged a protest, walking off the pitch - some disappearing into the tunnel and into the changing rooms - before eventually returning to continue the match.

Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy then saved Brahim Diaz's poorly taken Panenka attempt, allowing Senegal to regroup and claim the title in extra time.

Thiaw had been expected to explain his decision to remove the players from the field during the press conference. However, upon entering the room, he was immediately jeered by Moroccan journalists while his Senegalese counterparts applauded him, according to Reuters.

When officials failed to calm the increasingly rowdy atmosphere, the Senegal coach decided to leave without speaking.

The penalty itself was awarded following a VAR review by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala. Diaz had been tugged to the ground by Senegal fullback El Hadji Malick Diouf during a corner in the fifth minute of stoppage time, prompting the referee to point to the spot.

Senegal's furious reaction and temporary walk-off delayed the match for 14 minutes, adding to the farcical scenes that clouded an already dramatic finale.

Thiaw's actions have put him under the microscope, with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) likely to investigate the incident and consider sanctions.