The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has handed down stiff sanctions to Senegal following disorderly conduct during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, suspending national team coach Pape Thiaw for five matches and imposing a heavy financial penalty on the Senegalese Football Federation.
In a statement released after a meeting of its Disciplinary Board, CAF confirmed that Thiaw was found guilty of breaching competition regulations related to inappropriate conduct during and after the final match. The five-match suspension will apply to all CAF-sanctioned competitions, effectively ruling him out of the team’s upcoming continental fixtures.
CAF also fined Senegal a total of $615,000, citing multiple violations including failure to control team officials and players, misconduct on the technical bench, and actions that contributed to chaotic scenes at the end of the final.
According to CAF, reports from match officials, security teams and video footage revealed repeated breaches of discipline, prompting the governing body to take what it described as “firm and proportionate measures” to protect the integrity of African football.
“CAF will not tolerate conduct that brings the game into disrepute, especially during its flagship competitions,” the statement read. “All teams, officials and players are expected to respect the laws of the game and uphold the values of fair play.”
The sanctions follow a turbulent AFCON final that was overshadowed by confrontations involving players, technical staff and match officials, drawing widespread criticism from fans and observers across the continent.
The Senegalese Football Federation has the right to appeal the decision within the stipulated period under CAF disciplinary regulations.
CAF reiterated its commitment to enforcing discipline and maintaining order at major tournaments, stressing that strong governance remains essential to the continued growth and credibility of African football.
