Senegal Head Coach Pape Bouna Thiaw Handed 5-Match CAF Ban After AFCON Final Chaos

Senegal head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw has been handed a five-match suspension from all official CAF competitions following disciplinary issues during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed the sanction in an official statement, citing misconduct during the tense final played in Rabat on January 18. Senegal edged Morocco 1-0 after extra time to lift the AFCON title, but scenes surrounding the match have now drawn scrutiny from the continental governing body.

CAF stated that Thiaw was guilty of “unsporting conduct” and actions that “brought the game into disrepute.” According to the statement, his behavior violated CAF’s disciplinary principles, including fair play, integrity, and respect for the game, prompting decisive action from the disciplinary committee.

In addition to the suspension, Thiaw has also been fined $100,000, underscoring CAF’s firm stance against misconduct during official competitions. The ban applies to all CAF-sanctioned matches, meaning the Senegal coach will miss the team’s next five continental fixtures.