The final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations continues to spark discussion, well beyond the pitch. Following the incidents during the match, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has opened disciplinary proceedings against Pape Thiaw, the head coach of the Senegal national team.
The coach is specifically targeted for encouraging his players to temporarily leave the field in protest against a controversial refereeing decision. The CAF’s disciplinary committee is also considering imposing additional sanctions, including financial ones, on the Senegalese Football Federation. This move comes amid heightened sensitivity around refereeing and incident management during this final.
Pape Thiaw’s reaction has divided observers and analysts. On Canal+, journalist and commentator Nabil Djellit called for a balanced and comprehensive approach to sanctions: “All parties involved must be punished. Pape Thiaw, of course, for the example and the legal precedent this could create. With or without context, it’s a delicate matter, but we need to be fair. I’m very worried for him and I’m not sure he will be on the bench for Senegal at the World Cup,” he stated.
In Dakar, sports authorities and the Senegalese Football Federation have expressed their support for the coach. They believe any sanction should consider the unique context and the intense pressure that comes with a continental final. The possibility of contesting a decision deemed excessive remains open, in accordance with the procedures outlined by CAF regulations.
