The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has suspended Senegal head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw for five official CAF matches and fined him $100,000 for unsporting conduct during the AFCON 2025 final.
CAF’s Disciplinary Board ruled that Thiaw breached principles of fair play and integrity after urging his players to walk off the pitch during the tense final against hosts Morocco, an action the body said brought the game into disrepute.
The coach’s punishment formed part of a broad set of sanctions announced after several incidents marred the final. Two Senegal players, Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr, were each handed two-match CAF suspensions for unsporting behaviour toward match officials.
CAF also fined the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) a total of $615,000 for multiple disciplinary breaches. This included $300,000 for the misconduct of Senegalese supporters, another $300,000 for the unsporting conduct of players and technical staff, and $15,000 after five Senegal players were cautioned during the match.
Sanctions were also imposed on Morocco and its football authorities. Defender Achraf Hakimi received a two-match CAF suspension, with one match suspended for a year, while midfielder Ismaël Saibari was banned for three matches and fined $100,000 for unsporting behaviour.
The Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) was fined $200,000 for the inappropriate conduct of ball boys, $100,000 for the actions of players and technical staff who invaded the VAR area and obstructed the referee, and an additional $15,000 for supporters’ use of lasers inside the stadium.
CAF also dismissed a formal protest lodged by the Moroccan Football Federation alleging regulatory violations by Senegal, rejecting the complaint in its entirety and bringing to a close the disciplinary proceedings arising from one of the most controversial AFCON finals in recent years.
