Former head of the Confederation of African Football’s disciplinary committee, Raymond Hack, has strongly criticised the punishment handed to Senegal coach Pape Thiaw following the chaotic events of the Africa Cup of Nations final, describing it as overly lenient.
CAF sanctioned Thiaw with a five-match suspension and a fine of $100,000 after the chaotic scenes that unfolded during the final. The match was briefly disrupted when Senegalese players walked off the pitch on the instructions of their coach in protest against a penalty awarded to Morocco’s Atlas Lions, before eventually returning to resume play.
Speaking to SABC News, Hack did not hold back in his assessment of CAF’s handling of the situation.
“The CAF Disciplinary Committee failed when it imposed a lenient penalty on Senegal’s national team coach, Pape Thiaw,” he said.
The former CAF official argued that the severity of the incident warranted a far stronger response from the governing body.
“The punishment imposed on Thiao, the Senegal coach, should have been harsher, with a six-month suspension,” Hack added, insisting that such conduct set a dangerous precedent if left lightly punished.
Hack also dismissed claims that the financial sanction was significant, placing it in context with Senegal’s success at the tournament.
“The fine imposed on Thiaw seems large, but it isn’t. The Senegalese national team earned $10 million after winning the title,” he noted.
WATCH | Former CAF disciplinary committee chairperson Raymond Hack says the Confederation of African Football’s disciplinary board failed dismally by imposing a lenient sanction on Senegal coach Pape Thiaw, arguing that a harsher punishment was warranted. pic.twitter.com/lS7kUpeBux
— SABC News (@SABCNews) January 29, 2026
His comments have reignited debate around CAF’s disciplinary standards and whether the sanctions imposed after the AFCON final were sufficient to deter similar incidents in the future.
