Senegal national team head coach Pap Thiav made an important address to the fans. He called for the cessation of fundraising initiatives to pay the fine imposed on him following the events in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
As a reminder, in the tournament final, the Senegalese team defeated Morocco 1-0 and won the main prize. There were plenty of tense moments during the game: in the second half of stoppage time, the hosts' midfielder Braim Diaz executed an 11-meter free kick into the center using a "panenka" technique, but Senegal goalkeeper Eduard Mendy calmly saved the ball.
A long debate and debate arose around the decision to award the penalty. It was even reported that the Senegalese players were forced to leave the field by Pap Tiav's decision. That is, the final reminded not only of a goal but also of a nervous battle - as they say "in football, one decision shakes up entire history," that's exactly it.
Then a disciplinary decision was issued. The Disciplinary Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) suspended Pope Tiav for 5 matches and fined him $100,000 for "sports-inappropriate behavior."
Fans, trying not to leave the coach alone, put forward the idea of collecting money to pay the fine. But at this point, Tiav stopped abruptly.
"The people of Senegal, my family! Your unity, which you have shown since the announcement of the fine, has deeply affected me... But I ask you not to organize a fundraiser on my behalf or for me... I ask you to direct these funds for more urgent needs, for people who really need them," the coach wrote on social media.
In short, Tiav accepted the fans' love, but chose not to turn it into money - to turn it into charity, into goodness. For the fans, this is also a special "victory": the team won on the field, and the coach is winning in humanity.
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