The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that Senegal’s Football Federation (FSF) will not appeal the financial and sporting sanctions imposed on the country following disciplinary incidents at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
CAF said it was formally notified by the FSF of its decision after Senegal’s government earlier signalled an intention to challenge restrictions placed on two players and head coach Pape Thiaw.
The sanctions stem from heated scenes during Senegal’s final group-stage match against tournament hosts Morocco in January, which was disrupted after a Senegalese goal was controversially disallowed.
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Match Incident Led to Disciplinary Action
Following the decision to cancel the goal, the match was halted for approximately 14 minutes amid protests. During the stoppage, coach Pape Thiaw urged his players to leave the pitch, an action CAF later deemed to be in violation of its disciplinary code.
In its ruling delivered on Thursday, CAF’s disciplinary board described Thiaw’s conduct as “unsporting”, handing him a five-match suspension and imposing a $100,000 fine.
CAF also sanctioned two Senegalese forwards — Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr — with two-match suspensions each for what the governing body described as unsporting behaviour toward the match officials.
Federation Accepts Responsibility
In addition to individual penalties, the Senegalese Football Federation was fined over the conduct of both the team and sections of its supporters during the match.
In a statement, the federation said it would “assume full financial responsibility for the fines imposed on it, its technical staff, and its players.”
While accepting the ruling, the FSF stressed that it remains committed to defending Senegal’s legitimate interests within continental football structures.
Respect for CAF Regulations
The federation explained that its decision not to pursue an appeal reflects a broader commitment to respect CAF’s regulatory framework and to uphold the integrity of African football competitions.
Although the ruling has drawn mixed reactions among fans and analysts, football observers say Senegal’s decision may help ease tensions with CAF while allowing the team to refocus on future continental and international competitions.
Senegal, one of Africa’s most consistent footballing nations in recent years, is expected to continue preparations for upcoming qualifiers despite the temporary absence of key personnel.
TheAfriPost will continue to monitor developments, and thank you for reading.
