By Issah Olegor
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has moved swiftly to restore discipline and protect the image of its premier tournament after imposing a heavy sanction on Senegal head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw for his role in the disorderly that greeted the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
In a decision announced by CAF’s Disciplinary Board, Thiaw has been suspended for five official CAF matches and fined $100,000 for what the governing body described as unsporting conduct that violated the principles of fair play and brought the game into disrepute.
The punishment follows a dramatic and chaotic AFCON final staged at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, where Senegal faced hosts Morocco in a match that will be remembered as much for its turmoil as for its football.
The flashpoint came when Morocco were awarded a penalty, a decision that sparked furious from the Senegalese bench.
CAF’s findings indicate that Thiaw played a leading role in orchestrating a protest that saw the Teranga Lions walk off the pitch for approximately 17 minutes, halting the match and plunging the final into confusion.
The unprecedented stoppage threatened to derail the showpiece event until Senegal captain Sadio Mané intervened, helping persuade his teammates to return to the field so the match could continue.
When play eventually resumed, Senegal regrouped and went on to claim the African title after extra time, overcoming the tense atmosphere and the controversy surrounding the penalty decision.
The final itself was decided by a moment of brilliance from midfielder Pape Gueye, who scored a solo extra-time winner to hand Senegal the championship.
Morocco, despite home advantage and strong tournament form, were left to rue a crucial missed opportunity after star forward Brahim Diaz failed to convert the penalty that triggered the protests in the first place.
Following a detailed post-match investigation, CAF concluded that Thiaw’s conduct crossed disciplinary lines, prompting the severe punishment.
In its official statement, CAF declared:
“To suspend Mr Pape Bouna Thiaw, the Head Coach of the Senegalese National Team, for five (5) official CAF matches for his unsporting conduct in violation of the CAF Disciplinary Code principles of fair play and integrity and for bringing the game into disrepute.”
The statement further confirmed the financial penalty, adding:
“Mr Pape Bouna Thiaw was also fined USD 100,000.”
The ruling marks one of CAF’s strongest disciplinary actions against a national team coach in recent AFCON history and reflects the confederation’s determination to clamp down on misconduct, especially on the sport’s biggest continental stage.
Sources close to the Senegalese camp indicate that Thiaw is expected to lodge an appeal in the coming days, setting the stage for a potential legal and administrative battle over the sanction.
