Senegal and Morocco fined and players banned after African Cup final walk-off and chaos
Senegal and Morocco fined and players banned after African Cup final walk-off and chaos
Thu, January 29, 2026 at 7:58 AM UTC
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1 / 0APTOPIX Morocco Africa Cup of Nations SoccerSenegal supporters are taken from the stadium by security officers after a controversial penalty was awarded to Morocco late on during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Youssef Loulidi) ()
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has been banned for five games and fined $100,000 and Senegalese and Moroccan players also received suspensions following a walk-off during a chaotic African Cup of Nations final.
The sanctions announced Wednesday by the Confederation of African Football included fines totaling $615,000 for the Senegalese soccer federation and $315,000 for the Morocco federation for unsporting and improper conduct by their players, coaching staff and supporters, among other offenses.
The Jan. 23 African soccer showpiece was marred by Senegal players walking off led by Thiaw in protest against a late penalty awarded to host Morocco.
The game restarted after a delay, Morocco missed the penalty, and Senegal won the African title 1-0 after extra time.
The heated final in Rabat also saw supporters trying to storm the field, Morocco and Senegal players scuffling on the sidelines, reporters from the two countries fighting in press areas, and a bizarre sequence where Moroccan ball boys attempted to seize a towel being used by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
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That behavior by the home team's ball boys led to a $200,000 fine for Morocco's federation, which will be a co-host of the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal and has come under scrutiny for the shambolic African final.
Senegal players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were banned for two African games, Morocco's Achraf Hakimi was also banned for two games, with one suspended, and Morocco's Ismael Saibari was banned for three games and fined $100,000 for unsporting behavior.
The African soccer body dismissed an appeal by Morocco to have the result canceled and Morocco declared the winner because of the Senegalese walk-off.
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Source: “AOL Sports”
