CAF’s disciplinary committee has handed down suspensions and heavy fines to Senegal and Morocco over incidents that disrupted the Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat on 18 January, while rejecting Morocco’s protest seeking to overturn the result, according to a CAF decision reported by Reuters.
The final was halted for about 14 minutes late in regulation time after Senegal’s players left the pitch in protest at a VAR awarded penalty for Morocco, before returning for the spot kick that Brahim Diaz missed, after which Senegal won 1 to 0 in extra time.
CAF said Senegal coach Pape Thiaw was suspended for five CAF matches and fined $100,000 for unsporting conduct, while Senegal players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr received two match suspensions for behaviour towards the referee.
Senegal’s federation was fined a total of $615,000 over supporter misconduct and team conduct that CAF said damaged the image of the game and breached principles of fair play and integrity, Reuters reported.
Morocco was also sanctioned, with Achraf Hakimi suspended for two CAF matches, one of them suspended for a year, and Ismael Saibari banned for three CAF matches and fined $100,000, after an incident involving Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy’s towels.
Morocco’s football federation was fined $315,000 for misconduct linked to players, staff and matchday operations, including interference involving ball kids, Reuters reported.
A CAF disciplinary source told Reuters that the suspensions apply only to CAF competitions, meaning they will not affect World Cup matches, but will carry into CAF fixtures such as AFCON 2027 qualifying, expected to start in the September international window.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.