DOHA: The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has suspended Senegal coach Pape Thiaw for five matches and fined him $100,000 for unsporting conduct after he instructed his players to leave the pitch during the Africa Cup of Nations final against hosts Morocco.
CAF also fined the Senegal Football Federation $615,000 for the team’s conduct and the behaviour of their supporters. Senegal players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were each handed two-match CAF suspensions for unsporting behaviour towards the referee.
Morocco’s appeal to have the result overturned was dismissed by CAF’s Disciplinary Committee. The hosts had lodged the complaint after Senegal players briefly walked off the pitch, causing a 14-minute delay in the match.
Morocco were separately fined a total of $315,000 for the conduct of ball boys, the behaviour of players and staff in the Video Assistant Review area, and the use of laser pointers by supporters.
Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi was suspended for two CAF matches, with one suspended for a year, while Ismael Saibari received a three-match ban. Both were sanctioned for unsporting conduct after attempting to remove a pitch-side towel used by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy during heavy rain in Rabat.
The controversy followed a disallowed Senegal goal late in the match, after which Thiaw ordered his players off the field. Morocco were later awarded a penalty, but Brahim Diaz missed from the spot.
Senegal went on to win the final in extra time through a goal by Pape Gueye.The turbulent finale brought an end to what CAF said was otherwise a successful Cup of Nations, which generated record revenues for the governing body.
