Pafos FC secured a 2-0 victory on Friday against Apollon Limassol, and won the Cyprus Cup at a match at GSP Stadium, in Nicosia.
Jaja scored in the 84th minute, while Pepe secured the title for the Paphos team in the 92nd minute.
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, who attended the match, said on Friday that Ricardo Sa Pinto’s substitutions helped change the course of the Cypriot Cup final, while describing the post-match incidents and tensions as “regrettable.”
Speaking to Alpha Cyprus, which broadcast the match, President Christodoulides said Apollon had been the better side for much of the contest.
“Objectively, Apollon were the better team for most of the game,” he said.
“I think the substitutions made by Pafos’ coach helped change the course of the match,” he added.
President Christodoulides also noted that “there are no favourites in a cup final”.
“When one team scores, the other is forced to push for an equaliser and the game opens up. The game opened up and it became 2-0. Overall, it was a good match,” he said.
Referring to the tensions that erupted after the final whistle, the President said that “what happened was regrettable, we did not need it. Those involved in the game also have a responsibility to ensure we do not witness such unacceptable incidents.”
“They could have been avoided. We do not want to see such things in our stadiums. There were so many families and children there. Certain behaviours also provoked a reaction from the crowd,” he added.