The Disciplinary Commission of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced its decisions on Tuesday evening regarding the incidents that occurred during the Africa Cup of Nations final held on January 18 in Rabat between Senegal and Morocco. The various parties were heard the day before, on Monday, following a highly publicized disciplinary hearing.
No major surprises here. The African body confirmed the essentials: Senegal retains its title as African champion and remains fully qualified for the next World Cup. There were no serious challenges to the Lions of Teranga’s victory. However, the CAF imposed several individual and financial sanctions against the Senegalese camp.
Severe sanctions for both camps
The Senegalese national coach, Pape Thiaw, received a five-match suspension. This is a heavy blow, as it will prevent him from leading the national team from the bench during the first five matchdays of the CAN 2027 qualifiers, jeopardizing technical continuity.
Two Senegalese players are also facing disciplinary sanctions. Ismaïla Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye have each been suspended for two matches based on reports from the final’s referee, Jean-Jacques Ndalla. Additionally, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has been fined nearly 335 million CFA francs, adding to the financial fallout from this incident.
The Moroccan camp didn’t escape unscathed either. Achraf Hakimi has been suspended for two matches, one of which is suspended, while Ismaël Saibari received a three-match suspension for “unsportsmanlike behavior,” according to the CAF’s verdict.
Favorable prospects for Senegal on appeal
The FSF now has avenues for appeal. According to current regulations, it can appeal to the CAF Appeals Commission and, if necessary, to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if it believes certain sanctions are disproportionate or insufficiently justified.
Senegal’s chances of success on appeal look promising. Retaining the continental title and qualification for the World Cup shows that the CAF did not find any serious collective fault. Moreover, the sanctions are mainly based on referee reports, which can be contested or mitigated, especially with video evidence or mitigating circumstances.
As for Pape Thiaw, a reduction in the suspension period seems possible if the defense can demonstrate limited involvement or an excessive interpretation of the facts. Similarly, the suspensions imposed on the players could be reduced or even partially annulled if strong and well-supported arguments are presented.
While the financial fine may be harder to completely overturn, a reduction is still possible, as seen in previous disciplinary cases in African football.
