The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has handed down heavy sanctions following the chaotic scenes that marred the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final between Senegal and Morocco, suspending Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw and imposing fines totaling $1.1 million.
In a ruling announced on Thursday, CAF suspended Thiaw for five matches and fined him $100,000 for what it described as “unsporting conduct” after he ordered his players to walk off the pitch during the final. The incident occurred amid heated protests over refereeing decisions, bringing the match to a temporary halt and triggering widespread disorder.
CAF also fined the Senegalese Football Federation $615,000, citing the team’s conduct as well as the behaviour of Senegalese supporters at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. The disciplinary body noted that crowd disturbances and pitch-side protests contributed significantly to the breakdown of order during the match.
Further sanctions were imposed on two Senegalese players, Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr, who were each handed two-match suspensions for “unsporting behaviour towards the referee.” CAF stated that their actions violated disciplinary codes governing player conduct and respect for match officials.
The governing body reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on actions that undermine the integrity of the game, stressing that disciplinary measures are necessary to preserve fair play and uphold the image of African football on the global stage.
The AFCON final, which was expected to be a celebration of African football’s finest, instead became overshadowed by controversy, with CAF’s disciplinary ruling now closing the chapter on one of the tournament’s most contentious moments.
