Krepin Diatta reveals details about his withdrawal from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final

The Lion of Teranga did not play in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and host country Morocco on 18 January in Rabat. He was ruled out at the last minute, even though he was part of Pape Thiaw's starting 11.

The 26-year-old right-back revealed a few days after Senegal's victory that this was due to a bout of illness that had started earlier. "As you saw, I wasn't able to play in the final. The match had been well prepared, as usual. On the morning of the match, I wasn't feeling very well, but I told myself it was normal and that it would pass," Krepin Diatta told Senenews.

Far from subsiding, the discomfort became a cause for concern when the Senegalese team set off for the stadium. ‘The problem really started when we were leaving for the stadium. I had pain everywhere, in my head, lots of things. It was very strange. That's when we decided to replace me.’

‘I didn't see much of the final, apart from a few short videos, notably Pape Gueye's goal and the missed penalty.’

‘I was hospitalised and underwent several tests, but they didn't find anything. I then had another episode, my fourth, and was finally able to leave the hospital around 10 o'clock in the morning.’