The Confederation of African Football CAF ,has handed a five-match suspension to Senegal head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw for what it calls unsportsmanlike conduct during the final of the TotalEnergies sponsored 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON in Morocco.. . The CAF Disciplinary Board also fined him $100,000.
CAF in a statement on Wednesday, 28 January, CAF said its Disciplinary Board sanctioned the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), as well as several players and officials, for breaching provisions of the CAF Disciplinary Code during and after the final.
The final of the tournament which ended 1–0 in favour of Senegal after extra time, was marred by protests, walkout ,pitch-side confrontations and crowd unrest following a controversial Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decision late in the game which awarded penalty to Morocco after a 0-0 score.
The CAF Disciplinary Board also fined two Senegal players, Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr, were each suspended for two official CAF matches for unsporting behaviour towards the referee. In addition, the FSF was fined a total of $615,000. This included $300,000 for the improper conduct of supporters, another $300,000 for the unsporting conduct of players and technical staff, and $15,000 after five Senegal players received cautions during the match.
The Moroccan team was also sanctioned for several incidents linked to the final. Defender Achraf Hakimi received a two-match suspension, with one of the matches suspended for one year, for unsporting behaviour. Midfielder Ismaël Saibari was handed a three-match CAF ban and fined $100,000.
The FRMF was fined $200,000 for the inappropriate behaviour of ball boys during the match, $100,000 for the conduct of players and technical staff who invaded the VAR review area and obstructed the referee, and $15,000 for the use of laser pointers by Moroccan supporters.
The Federation also dismissed a formal protest lodged by the Moroccan federation, which alleged violations by Senegal under Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations. The Disciplinary Board ruled that the protest lacked merit.
As protest escalated,Senegal captain Sadio Mané urged his teammates to return so the match could continue.
At the resumption of play, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saved Díaz’s attempted Panenka penalty, a turning point in the match. Senegal went on to seize the moment in extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring a long-range goal strike to win the championship.
FIFA had long condemned the behaviour of the football team saying it is unacceptable.
“It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner, and equally, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport; it is simply not right.” FIFA President , Giovanni Infantino said
