AFCON 2025: Senegal Coach Thiaw Rejects Fundraising After CAF Slap Five-Match Ban, $100,000 Fine
Senegal head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw has called on supporters to stop organising fundraising campaigns in his name following a five-match suspension and $100,000 fine imposed by the Confederation of African Football over incidents in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 final.
Thiaw led the Teranga Lions to a 1-0 extra-time victory against hosts Morocco on 18 January 2026 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal in the 94th minute. The triumph marked Senegal’s second continental title, following their 2021 success in Cameroon, and came amid chaotic scenes late in regulation time.
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The controversy erupted in stoppage time when referee Jean-Jacques Ndala, after a VAR review, awarded Morocco a penalty following an alleged foul on Brahim Diaz, shortly after a Senegal goal by Ismaila Sarr had been disallowed. Thiaw instructed his players to leave the pitch in protest, halting play for several minutes before they returned. Diaz’s subsequent Panenka attempt was saved by Edouard Mendy, sending the match into extra time.
The Confederation of African Football’s Disciplinary Board announced the sanctions on 28 January 2026, citing Thiaw’s actions as unsporting conduct in violation of principles of fair play and integrity, and for bringing the game into disrepute. The board suspended him for five official CAF matches and imposed the $100,000 fine.
The Senegalese Football Federation received a total fine of approximately $615,000 for improper conduct by supporters, players, and staff, including breaches related to fan behaviour and five bookings during the final. Individual players from Senegal, including Iliman Ndiaye, faced shorter suspensions for unsporting behaviour towards the referee.
Morocco’s federation was fined $200,000, among other penalties affecting players and officials from both sides. CAF rejected a protest from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation seeking to challenge the final’s outcome under Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations.
In a statement posted on Instagram on Thursday, Thiaw expressed gratitude for the public support since the sanctions were made public.
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“People of Senegal, my family. Your solidarity since the announcement of the sanctions goes straight to my heart. Thank you for the love you show me every day,” he wrote.
“I humbly ask you not to organise fundraisers in my name. While I understand and appreciate this outpouring of generosity, I invite you to redirect these funds to more urgent causes, for the benefit of those who truly need them.”
The appeal reflects Thiaw’s emphasis on prioritising community needs over personal financial support amid the penalties. The Senegalese Football Federation has previously indicated it would handle related obligations, and public sentiment has included calls for solidarity, though Thiaw has redirected such efforts.
The final itself drew record digital viewership, exceeding five billion views according to CAF figures, underscoring the tournament’s growing global reach despite the late disruptions.
Thiaw’s suspension applies to CAF-organised competitions and will affect Senegal’s participation in upcoming qualifiers, including those for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The coach’s actions during the match, while drawing criticism from some quarters for escalating tensions, have also received backing from sections of Senegalese football authorities and fans who viewed them as a stand against perceived injustices on the field.
The verdict on the final result remains unchanged, with Senegal confirmed as champions.