Senegal Coach Could Face Heavy CAF Sanctions After AFCON Final Walk-Off
Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw is set to face heavy sanctions from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following the controversial walk-off during Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco.
Under CAF regulations, instructing players to leave the pitch is classified as unsporting conduct and inciting players, and can result in fines or touchline bans. It does not, however, automatically lead to disqualification.
Thiaw was at the centre of the chaotic scenes that briefly stopped the match, angered by a penalty awarded to the hosts. Speaking after the game, he apologised to the football world.
“Quite simply, because we did not agree with the decision. I don’t want to dwell too much on that moment of the match, but after reflecting on it, I didn’t like how I acted,” Thiaw said.
“In a moment of anger, I told the players to leave the pitch, and I apologise to the world of football for that. Once I calmed down, I asked them to return to the field, and we all saw what happened after that.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino also condemned the incident, describing the walk-off as “unacceptable” and saying that leaving the field in that manner was wrong and damaged the image of the game.
CAF is expected to review the incident in the coming days and determine the sanctions for Thiaw. The decision could include a touchline ban or a substantial fine, reflecting the seriousness of the breach.
