The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reportedly suspended Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw following his conduct during the dramatic AFCON 2025 final against hosts Morocco.
CAF’s disciplinary committee found Thiaw guilty of breaching competition regulations after he ordered his players to walk off the pitch in protest over a controversial refereeing decision late in the game. Although Senegal eventually returned to complete the match and secured a 1–0 victory after extra time, CAF described the actions of the technical bench as unacceptable and damaging to the image of African football.
The decision comes after intense scrutiny surrounding the chaotic scenes that overshadowed the showpiece match, despite Senegal going on to lift the trophy.
CAF confirmed in a statement that Thiaw will serve a suspension from all CAF competitions, with further sanctions including a fine also imposed. The length of the ban means Senegal will be without their head coach for upcoming competitive fixtures, forcing the Senegalese FA to consider interim arrangements.
CAF stressed its commitment to upholding discipline and respect for match officials across all its competitions, noting that no individual or team is above the rules. The governing body added that appropriate sanctions had been imposed in line with its disciplinary code and warned that similar behaviour in the future would attract even harsher penalties.
The incident has sparked widespread debate across the continent, once again raising concerns about officiating standards, discipline, and conduct at major African tournaments.
