According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has been suspended from all CAF competitions following his conduct during the tense AFCON 2025 final against host nation Morocco.
The CAF Disciplinary Committee ruled that Thiaw breached competition regulations after instructing his players to walk off the pitch in protest over a late refereeing decision. Although Senegal later returned to the field and went on to clinch a 1–0 victory after extra time, CAF said the action of the technical bench was “unacceptable” and harmful to the image of African football.
The governing body further stated that the dramatic scenes overshadowed what should have been a celebration of African football’s biggest showpiece, even as Senegal lifted the continental trophy.
In its statement, CAF confirmed that Thiaw’s suspension will be accompanied by a financial penalty, adding that the length of the ban will rule him out of Senegal’s upcoming competitive fixtures. The Senegalese Football Association is now expected to appoint an interim coach.
CAF stressed that discipline and respect for match officials remain non-negotiable, warning that no individual or team is above its regulations. The body added that future incidents of similar nature would attract even stricter sanctions.
Meanwhile, the controversy has reignited continental debate over officiating standards and technical bench conduct, once again placing African football’s governance under the spotlight.