Caf Hands Senegal Coach Pape Thiaw Five-Match Ban

Senegal head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw has been suspended for five matches and fined USD 100,000 by the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) over his conduct during the stormy Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Morocco 2025 final.

CAF’s Disciplinary Board ruled that Thiaw violated principles of fair play and integrity after he led his players off the pitch in protest against a controversial late penalty awarded to hosts Morocco.

Importantly for Senegal, CAF confirmed that the sanction applies only to CAF competitions, meaning Thiaw will remain eligible to guide the reigning African champions at the Fifa World Cup finals in June.

The incident occurred in the 98th minute of stoppage time when Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty following a VAR review after heavy protests from Moroccan players led by Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz. Senegal’s bench strongly disputed the decision, accusing the referee of bowing to external pressure.

In response, Thiaw instructed his players to walk off the pitch, forcing a stoppage of more than 10 minutes before Senegal captain Sadio Mane convinced his teammates to return. Diaz later missed the penalty, and Senegal went on to secure a 1-0 victory in extra time through Pape Gueye to claim their second Afcon title.

In a statement after the ruling, the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) expressed solidarity with Thiaw, describing his actions as a principled stand to defend the integrity of the game. The federation said the coach acted in the best interests of his team amid what it called unacceptable pressure on match officials.

While accepting CAF’s decision, the FSF welcomed clarification that the punishment would not extend to Fifa competitions, allowing Senegal to maintain continuity in their World Cup preparations.

Thiaw will now miss Senegal’s next five CAF-sanctioned matches, including upcoming Afcon qualifiers and other continental fixtures. However, he is expected to remain closely involved in the team’s planning and technical direction as Senegal shift focus to the World Cup.

The ruling draws the curtain on one of the most contentious Afcon finals in recent history, a match that reignited debate about refereeing standards, VAR influence and the intense pressure surrounding Africa’s biggest football stage.