Dakar, Senegal – The Senegalese Football Federation has announced plans to appeal sanctions imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) against national team coach Pape Thiaw and two key players, following chaotic scenes in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final earlier this month.
CAF’s Disciplinary Ruling
On Thursday, January 29, 2026, CAF’s disciplinary board handed down a series of penalties:
- Pape Thiaw: Suspended for five matches and fined $100,000.
- Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr: Suspended for two matches each for unsporting behaviour towards the referee.
- Senegalese Football Federation: Fined $615,000 over the conduct of the team and its supporters.
The sanctions stem from an incident late in the AFCON final against hosts Morocco, when Thiaw encouraged his players to leave the pitch after a Senegal goal was disallowed. The walk-off triggered a 14-minute stoppage in play before Senegal returned to the field and eventually won the match in stoppage time.
CAF ruled that Thiaw’s actions were “unsporting” and brought “the game into disrepute.”
Senegal’s Response
Senegal’s sports minister said the government would do everything possible “to mitigate this sanction.” The federation confirmed it will appeal the ruling, either before a CAF commission or the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Meanwhile, Morocco’s attempt to have the match result overturned due to the walk-off was dismissed by CAF’s disciplinary committee.
Impact on Future Competitions
The bans for Thiaw, Ndiaye, and Sarr apply only to CAF competitions and will not affect Senegal’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Conclusion
The disciplinary fallout from Senegal’s dramatic AFCON victory highlights the tension between competitive passion and regulatory enforcement in African football. As Senegal pursues its appeal, the case will test CAF’s disciplinary framework and could set a precedent for how similar incidents are handled in future tournaments.
