The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reportedly taken disciplinary action against Senegal's head coach, Pape Thiaw, following the dramatic and controversial conclusion to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
Chaos Erupts in AFCON Final
Senegal, known as the Teranga Lions, clinched their second continental title in five years after a tense 1-0 victory over hosts Morocco on Sunday, January 18, 2026. The match, held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, was decided by Pape Gueye's 94th-minute winner. However, the historic moment was overshadowed by a major incident in the dying moments of regular time.
In the 97th minute, with the score locked at 0-0, the referee awarded a penalty to Morocco after a Senegalese defender was adjudged to have fouled Brahim Díaz of Real Madrid, preventing him from reaching a corner kick. This decision sparked immediate fury from the Senegalese bench.
Thiaw's Controversial Order and Fan Unrest
In a move that has drawn widespread condemnation, an enraged Coach Pape Thiaw reportedly instructed his entire team to leave the pitch in protest. The players obeyed, heading towards the dressing room and bringing the game to an abrupt halt.
This act triggered chaos in the stadium. Aggrieved Senegalese fans attempted to storm the pitch, leading to a confrontation with security personnel. Order was eventually restored, but not before several arrests were made and other fans were forced back to their seats. The situation was only calmed after Liverpool legend Sadio Mané intervened, appealing to his coach and teammates to return and finish the match.
Dramatic Resolution and CAF's Strong Stance
After a 17-minute delay, play resumed. Moroccan star Brahim Díaz stepped up to take the penalty, but his effort was heroically saved by Senegal's goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy. This paved the way for Gueye's decisive goal moments later, sealing the title for Senegal and extending Morocco's wait for a second AFCON crown to half a century.
Despite the victory, CAF has taken a firm stance. The African football governing body has condemned the incident in strong terms, describing the actions of the Senegalese team as "unacceptable". Their reported suspension of Coach Pape Thiaw underscores a zero-tolerance policy towards conduct that undermines the spirit and integrity of the game, even in the heat of a high-stakes final.
