CAF Suspends Senegal Coach Pape Thiaw After AFCON Final Walk-Off

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has been suspended by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following disciplinary review of the tumultuous Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Rabat.

Senegal claimed their second AFCON title with a 1–0 extra-time win over hosts Morocco at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. The victory, however, was overshadowed when Thiaw ordered his players off the pitch in protest.

The incident unfolded in second-half stoppage time after referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty following a VAR review, shortly after disallowing a Senegalese goal. In response, Thiaw instructed his squad to leave the field, halting the match for nearly 20 minutes.

Senegal captain Sadio Mane played a key role in calming the situation, convincing his teammates to return to the pitch. The team eventually secured the win through an extra-time goal from Pape Gueye.

CAF’s disciplinary committee described the walk-off as a “serious breach of conduct” that threatened the integrity of the competition. The committee emphasized that protests or match abandonments are unacceptable at any level of professional football.

Thiaw later acknowledged acting out of anger and expressed regret over his decision, admitting that emotions had taken control during the tense final.