Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has been handed a five-match ban and fined $100,000 by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following the dramatic scenes that marred the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco in Rabat.

CAF’s disciplinary ruling relates to Thiaw’s decision to instruct his players to leave the pitch in protest during the closing stages of the final, moments after a series of contentious refereeing decisions sparked chaos inside the stadium.

The governing body said the sanction reflected the seriousness of the incident, which led to a lengthy stoppage and raised concerns about player safety and match integrity.

Thiaw, who guided Senegal to a historic second AFCON title after a dramatic extra-time victory, has not publicly responded to the punishment. However, sources close to the Senegal camp insist the coach acted in what he believed was the best interest of his players amid heightened tensions.

The ban means Thiaw will miss several upcoming CAF competitions, dealing a blow to Senegal’s technical setup as they prepare for future international assignments.