CAF Enforces Sanctions Following Controversial Africa Cup of Nations Final

omidbasir- The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has suspended Senegal’s coach, Pape Thiaw, for five matches and fined him $100,000 for unsporting conduct. This decision follows an incident during the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco, where Thiaw instructed his players to leave the pitch.

In addition to Thiaw’s penalties, the Senegalese Football Federation was fined $615,000 due to the team’s and fans’ behavior. Players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr have also been suspended for two CAF matches for their unsporting conduct towards the referee.

Morocco’s Football Association received a total fine of $315,000, and CAF emphasized that Thiaw’s suspension stemmed from “bringing the game into disrepute.” Collectively, the penalties for both nations exceed $1 million.

It’s important to note that these sanctions pertain only to African competitions and do not affect the upcoming FIFA World Cup, where both Senegal and Morocco have qualified.

Morocco’s request to overturn the match result, following the prolonged delay caused by the Senegalese players leaving the pitch, was rejected by CAF’s Disciplinary Committee.

The fines imposed on Morocco were attributed to several factors, including the conduct of ball boys, the behavior of players and staff in the Video Assistant Review area, and inappropriate use of lasers by supporters. One notable incident involved Moroccan ball boys attempting to distract Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy by trying to seize his towel, which resulted in a $200,000 fine for Morocco.

Morocco’s captain, Achraf Hakimi, received a two-match suspension (with one match suspended for a year), while teammate Ismael Saibari was suspended for three matches and fined $100,000, both for unsporting conduct.

During the match, Thiaw directed his players to leave the field late in the game after a goal was disallowed. Shortly thereafter, Morocco was awarded a penalty, which was ultimately missed by Brahim Díaz. Senegal ultimately triumphed with a decisive extra-time goal from Pape Gueye.

Morocco’s coach, Walid Regragui, criticized the final as creating a “shameful” image for African soccer, a sentiment echoed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who described the incidents as ugly and anticipated sanctions from CAF.

Morocco is eager to host the 2030 World Cup final at the under-construction Hassan II Stadium, projected to be the largest soccer arena in the world, with a capacity of 115,000 upon completion in 2028. However, Spain recently announced that it will host the 2030 final.

CAF has dismissed Morocco’s appeal to cancel the match result, maintaining Senegal’s victory despite the walk-off incident.

The aftermath of the match has strained diplomatic relations between Senegal and Morocco, prompting political leaders in both countries to advocate for continued friendship and calm. In Morocco, rights groups have condemned perceived hate speech directed at sub-Saharan African populations.

Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, during a recent investment trip to Morocco, characterized the reactions to the match as emotional outbursts rather than political or cultural conflicts.