While Senegal has been officially confirmed as the tournament winners, the “Lions of Teranga” have borne the brunt of a heavy disciplinary hammer.
Pape Thiaw slapped with five-match ban
Senegal’s head coach, Pape Bouna Thiaw, has been suspended for five official CAF matches, the most significant individual penalty. Additionally, Thiaw has been fined USD 100,000 for unsporting conduct.
The CAF Disciplinary Board ruled that Thiaw’s actions, specifically his role in leading a 14-minute player walk-off to protest a late VAR penalty brought the game into disrepute and damaged the image of African football on its grandest stage.
Senegal hit with $615,000 financial penalty
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) faces a total financial liability of $615,000. The breakdown of these fines includes:
- $300,000 for the misbehaviour of supporters.
- $300,000 for the misconduct of players and technical staff.
- $15,000 for the five yellow cards accumulated during the fiery final.
Key players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr were also caught in the crossfire, receiving two-match suspensions each for their unsporting behaviour toward referee Jean-Jacques Ndala.
Meanwhile, the host nation, Morocco did not escape unscathed, receiving a total fine of $315,000. This included $200,000 for the behaviour of stadium ball boys, $100,000 for team misconduct, and $15,000 for the use of lasers by fans.
Crucially, CAF rejected Morocco’s legal appeal, which argued that Senegal should be stripped of the title for abandoning the match during the walk-off. By dismissing this petition, CAF has officially reaffirmed Senegal as the 2025 AFCON Champions.
