Senegal’s manager, Pape Thiaw, has been handed a five-match ban by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following the disorderly events during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against Morocco. Thiaw has also been fined $100,000 for “unsporting conduct” and “bringing the game into disrepute.”
A Chaotic Final
The AFCON final, held on January 18, 2025, in Rabat, ended with Senegal’s victory over Morocco, but the match was marred by controversy. The final took a dramatic turn when Senegal’s players walked off the field after Morocco was awarded a last-minute penalty. Thiaw, enraged by a previous referee decision, instructed his players to leave the pitch. The game was delayed for about 17 minutes before forward Sadio Mane managed to convince his team to return.
Despite the chaos, Senegal won 1-0, with Pape Gueye scoring the winning goal in the fourth minute of extra time. However, the post-match actions did not go unnoticed, leading to severe sanctions from CAF.
Fines and Bans for Senegal and Players
CAF’s disciplinary committee issued a series of fines, including a significant penalty for the Senegal Football Federation (FSF), which was fined $615,000 for both player and supporter misconduct. Additionally, players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were handed two-match bans for unsporting behavior toward the referee.
In response to the incidents during the final, Morocco’s football federation (FRMF) faced penalties as well, with fines imposed for unsporting actions such as ball boys trying to steal towels from Senegal’s goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy.
Reaction and Future Impact
Despite the controversies, the sanctions will not affect Senegal’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup, as the bans are limited to CAF competitions. The decision to ban Thiaw and others follows a broader trend in football of taking a stronger stance against unsporting conduct and poor behavior in high-stakes matches.
