- Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has been suspended for five CAF matches.
- Several players from both teams received bans for poor conduct.
- CAF issued heavy fines to the two football federations.
- The chaos followed controversial decisions in the AFCON final.
- The sanctions will not affect 2026 World Cup preparations.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has taken firm action following disorder during the Africa Cup of Nations final played earlier this month in Rabat.
Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has been handed a five-match ban after CAF found him guilty of behaviour that went against fair play rules during the tense showdown against Morocco.
According to CAF, Thiaw’s actions during the match amounted to misconduct and damaged the image of the game. The final, played on January 18, ended with Senegal beating Morocco 1-0 after extra time.
Television footage showed the coach making gestures toward his players during a heated moment late in normal time, which officials interpreted as instructions to leave the pitch.
CAF also punished several players involved in confrontations with match officials.
Senegal forwards Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were each banned for two matches due to what CAF described as unacceptable conduct toward the referee.
On the Moroccan side, Ismael Saibari received a three-match suspension and a fine of $100,000, while captain Achraf Hakimi was ruled out for two CAF matches.
The Senegal Football Federation was slapped with a total fine of $615,000. CAF said the punishment covered misconduct by players and officials, which violated core values of discipline and integrity.
Morocco’s federation was fined $315,000 in total. This included penalties for pitch-side interference, behaviour around the VAR area, and actions by stadium ball boys.
CAF also fined Moroccan fans $15,000 after lasers were used to distract Senegal players during the match.
Trouble began late in regulation time when a goal by Ismaila Sarr was ruled out after a foul call involving Hakimi, who was later named Africa’s Player of the Year.
Moments later, Morocco was awarded a penalty after Brahim Diaz was fouled, a decision that triggered strong protests from Senegal players and officials.
During the stoppage, some Senegal supporters threw objects onto the field, and a brief pitch invasion followed before security restored order.
As tempers rose, most Senegal players walked off the pitch and headed toward the dressing room.
However, team captain Sadio Mane remained behind and later convinced his teammates to return so the match could continue.
Morocco eventually missed the penalty, with goalkeeper Edouard Mendy making the save. The game went into extra time, where Pape Gueye scored the winning goal that secured Senegal their second AFCON title
CAF clarified that all suspensions apply only to its competitions. The bans will not interfere with preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Senegal is drawn in Group I alongside France, Norway, and the winner of an intercontinental playoff.
Morocco, which made history by reaching the World Cup semi-finals in 2022, is placed in Group C with Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti.
Coach Pape Thiaw will miss five of Senegal’s six AFCON 2027 qualification matches scheduled for September, October, and November.
The affected players will also sit out the opening two qualifiers, dealing an early setback to both nations as the next AFCON cycle begins.
