CAF suspends coach Thiaw, Hakimi, others, fines Senegal, Morocco over chaos in AFCON final
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has banned Senegal’s coach Pape Thiaw for five CAF matches over the chaos that erupted at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.
According to a statement by CAF, Thiaw was found guilty of “unsporting conduct” and “bringing the game into disrepute” during the final game between host country Morocco and Senegal which took place on January 18.
Receiving two-match bans were premier league players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr of Senegal, for “unsporting behaviour towards the referee”, while the Senegal Football Federation (FSF) was fined $615,000 in total for various offences during the final, including the “unsporting conduct of their players and technical staff in violation of the CAF disciplinary code, principles of fair play, loyalty and integrity”.
Moroccan forward Ismael Saibari was handed a three-match ban and a fine of $100,000 for “unsporting behaviour”, while Achraf Hakimi the Moroccan captain was suspended for two matches.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) was handed a fine of $200,000 for the “inappropriate behaviour of the stadium ball boys”, an additional fine of $100,000 for the “improper conduct” of players and technical staff who invaded the VAR review area, obstructing the referee in the process, and a $15,000 fine for Moroccan supporters who used lasers to distract Senegalese players, making it a grand total of $315,000.
The bans placed on Senegal’s coach and other four African players will not affect their preparations or outings at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, where both Senegal and Morocco are expected to feature, as the bans only affect CAF matches.
The AFCON final had taken a surprise turn when the Senegal team stormed off the field in protest, after a penalty was controversially awarded against them towards the end of normal time.
The team had earlier protested the referee’s decision to disallow a goal they scored in the second added minute.
Senegal’s coach Pape Bouna Thiaw, in response, ordered his players off the pitch after the penalty was awarded, following a VAR check by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala.
The match which was delayed for 14 minutes as a result of the incident, only continued after Senegal’s star player Sadio Mane persuaded his team mates to return to the pitch, with Senegal eventually winning the match by a lone goal scored after extra time.
