With no appeal from the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), Pape Thiaw will serve his suspension from September to November 2026, a crucial period that coincides with the group stage of the CAN 2027 qualifiers. This sanction, covering five matches, will significantly impact the qualification campaign. The coach of the Lions of Senegal will only return to his position in November 2026, during the final day of the qualifiers.
The qualifiers for CAN 2027 will kick off in March 2026 with a preliminary round featuring twelve teams. The six qualifying teams will then join the 42 nations already qualified, forming the group stage. It is during this stage that Pape Thiaw will be absent, specifically during the first four matchdays scheduled between September 21 and October 6, 2026. He could also miss the fifth matchday before returning for the fixtures set between November 9 and 17, 2026.
Matchday schedule:
- Matchday 1: September 21 – October 6, 2026
- Matchday 2: September 21 – October 6, 2026
- Matchday 3: September 21 – October 6, 2026
- Matchday 4: September 21 – October 6, 2026
- Matchday 5: November 9 – 17, 2026
- Matchday 6: November 9 – 17, 2026
This sanction doesn’t only affect Pape Thiaw. Two key offensive players for the Lions, Ismaila Sarr and Illiman Ndiaye, have also been suspended for two matches each. They will miss the first two matchdays of the CAN 2027 qualifiers. This absence could significantly impact Senegal’s attack, which will start its campaign without its coach and two of its main offensive weapons.
This tricky situation puts the FSF and the technical staff in a position where they must make crucial strategic choices, especially since every point will be vital to ensure a smooth qualification for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
