CAF Suspends Senegal Coach Thiaw for 5 Continental Matches, Fines Him $100,000 After AFCON Final Incidents

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced sanctions against Senegal national team coach, Pape Boubacar Thiaw, following incidents that occurred during the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

CAF officially confirmed Thiaw's suspension for five official CAF-affiliated matches and imposed a fine of $100,000. These penalties were issued due to unsportsmanlike conduct deemed to have damaged the image of African football.

Thiaw's punishment stems from what observers described as "disturbances" that followed the final whistle. The Senegal coach was at the center of a controversial "withdrawal" incident and strong protests against the refereeing, which generated widespread reactions and was considered detrimental to the image of a continental final that should embody fair play and sportsmanship.

Despite these sanctions, many followers had anticipated stricter disciplinary actions against the Senegalese coach, given the magnitude of the incident and its negative impact on African football's reputation, especially as scenes of protest and threats of withdrawal circulated widely after the match.

In the same context, the disciplinary committee's decisions also included the suspension of Senegal players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr for two matches each. Additionally, heavy financial penalties were levied against the Senegalese Football Federation due to the conduct of fans and technical staff. The Moroccan national team also faced suspensions and fines stemming from various incidents witnessed during the final.