Senegal’s coach, Pape Thiaw, has been banned for five matches by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following the chaotic Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against Morocco on January 18, 2026, which Senegal won 1-0 after extra time.
In a statement released on Wednesday, CAF cited Thiaw for “unsporting conduct” and “bringing the game into disrepute” during the final held in Rabat.
Senegal’s players, Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr, both of whom play in the English Premier League, were also handed two-match suspensions for “unsporting behavior towards the referee.”
The Senegal Football Federation (FSF) was fined $615,000 for multiple offenses during the final, including the “unsporting conduct” of players and staff, violating CAF’s disciplinary principles of fair play, loyalty, and integrity.
In a related ruling, Morocco’s Ismael Saibari received a three-match ban and a $100,000 fine for “unsporting behavior.” Morocco’s captain and defender, Achraf Hakimi, was handed a two-match suspension.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) faced a $200,000 fine for the “inappropriate behavior of stadium ball boys,” with an additional $100,000 imposed due to players and staff invading the VAR review area and obstructing the work of the Congolese referee. Moreover, a $15,000 fine was levied after Moroccan fans used lasers to distract Senegalese players, bringing the total fine for Morocco to $315,000.
The AFCON final saw a series of dramatic moments, including a controversial disallowed goal by Senegal’s Sarr due to a foul on Hakimi, the 2025 African Player of the Year.
