Senegal manager, Pape Thiaw, has been banned for five games following chaotic scenes during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against Morocco earlier this month.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) also fined Thiaw $100,000 (£72,000), ruling that he was guilty of “unsporting conduct” and “bringing the game into disrepute.”
The sanctions form part of a raft of punishments amounting to nearly £1 million in fines arising from the final, which was played on January 18 in Rabat and ended in a 1-0 victory for Senegal.
The match descended into disorder when Senegal’s players walked off the pitch after Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty. Moments earlier, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala had blown for a foul on Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi before Ismaila Sarr headed the ball into the net.
An incensed Thiaw instructed his players to leave the field, leading to a delay of about 17 minutes. Senegal forward Sadio Mane later persuaded his teammates to return to the pitch.
Morocco’s Brahim Diaz saw his Panenka penalty saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, after which referee Ndala immediately blew for full-time. Pape Gueye had earlier scored the decisive goal in the fourth minute of extra time, sealing Senegal’s second AFCON triumph in five years.
Senegal forwards Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were each handed two-match bans for “unsporting behaviour towards the referee.” The Senegal Football Federation (FSF) was fined a total of $615,000 (£444,000).
Of that amount, $300,000 relates to the unsporting conduct of Senegal players and technical staff, while the remaining $300,000 was imposed for the improper conduct of supporters. An additional $15,000 fine was levied after Senegal received five yellow cards during the final.
Several Teranga Lions supporters were involved in confrontations with security personnel following the penalty decision, with some attempting to enter the pitch.
On the Moroccan side, forward Ismael Saibari received a three-match ban and a $100,000 (£72,000) fine, while defender Achraf Hakimi was handed a two-match ban, with one of those games suspended for 12 months.
Morocco’s football federation (FRMF) was fined $200,000 (£144,000) for the “inappropriate behaviour” of ball boys at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, after repeated attempts to remove Mendy’s towel from behind the goal.
CAF also fined the FRMF $100,000 after Atlas Lions players and officials invaded the video assistant referee (VAR) review area and obstructed the referee’s work. A further $15,000 fine was imposed for the use of lasers by Moroccan supporters.
A bid by the FRMF to have the result overturned due to Senegal players leaving the pitch was dismissed by CAF’s disciplinary committee.
The bans imposed on Thiaw and the players apply only to CAF competitions and will not affect Senegal’s preparations for the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Thiaw is set to miss five of Senegal’s six qualifiers for the 2027 AFCON.
— BBC
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