{"id":21923,"date":"2026-01-29T11:20:27","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T11:20:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/29\/senegal-coach-and-players-punished-and-suspended-due-to-chaos-at-afcon-final\/"},"modified":"2026-01-29T11:20:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T11:20:27","slug":"senegal-coach-and-players-punished-and-suspended-due-to-chaos-at-afcon-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/29\/senegal-coach-and-players-punished-and-suspended-due-to-chaos-at-afcon-final\/","title":{"rendered":"Senegal coach and players punished and suspended due to chaos at AFCON final"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Senegal have been fined and their coach and two players have also been suspended following chaotic scenes of protests during the AFCON final against Morocco.<\/h2>\n
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January 29, 2026, 09:18<\/span>Updated January 29, 2026 09:24<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Pape Tiau orders his team off the field (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n
Senegal faced serious penalties following an unpleasant scene in the AFCON final, with manager Pape Tiao receiving a five-match ban and two of his players receiving similar punishments.<\/p>\n
This is the same fine handed down by African football’s governing body CAF. They were fined with a number of misdemeanors, including unsporting conduct and misconduct, totaling \u00a3440,000. Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr, who were involved in the late-game chaos, were both given two-match suspensions.<\/p>\n
It all started when defeated finalists Morocco were given a stoppage-time penalty. West Ham star El Hadji Malick Diouf was nailed for a foul on Brahim Dias, referee Jean-Jacques N’Dala was called for VAR and a spot-kick was awarded.<\/p>\n
Senegal’s players and coaching staff, with the exception of Liverpool legend Sadio Mane, eventually left the pitch and returned to the changing rooms in protest.<\/p>\n
read more: Brahim Diaz releases statement on AFCON punishment after claims he missed on purpose<\/span><\/span>read more: Sadio Mane finally decides to retire after AFCON final controversy<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Although they finally returned after 17 minutes after a long delay, Morocco’s moment of glory was a Panenka attempt by the Real Madrid star, but ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saved and Senegal won in extra time. But the unwelcome sight for the entire continent became global news.<\/p>\n
Thiau has since admitted his mistake after leading his team off the pitch. “I apologize for what happened to soccer. After reflecting, I let them return (to the pitch). You can react with the intensity of the moment,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We accept the referee’s mistake. We shouldn’t have done it, but it’s over. We now apologize to the football community.”<\/p>\n
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Senegal’s two star players have been suspended, as has their head coach (Image: Ulrik Pedersen\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Thiau’s anger, particularly towards the referee, stemmed from the referee’s disallowance of a goal by Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr, who scored from close range earlier in the match. Morocco’s coach Walid Legulagui said Senegal’s actions were “disgraceful”.<\/p>\n
Mane refused to take part in the sending-off protest and instead played a central role in getting the players back onto the pitch, and was praised for his role in restoring peace.<\/p>\n
He said, “Soccer was something special and the world was watching. So we have to give a good image to football. I think it’s strange not to play this game just because the referee gave a penalty and we were sent off from the match. I think it’s the worst thing to happen, especially in African football. I’d rather lose than have something like this happen to our football.”<\/p>\n
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![\"Senegal](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36573315.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/1_Morocco-v-Senegal-Africa-Cup-of-Nations.jpg\")
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