The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has confirmed it will pay all financial penalties imposed on its players, head coach and officials following disciplinary sanctions handed down by CAF after the chaotic 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco.
In a statement released on Saturday, the FSF said it had “taken official note of decision DC23315 rendered on January 28, 2026, by the CAF Disciplinary Jury” and had formally informed CAF that it would not appeal the ruling.
Crucially, the federation also confirmed that it would assume responsibility for all fines issued in relation to the final.
The decision means the governing body will cover sanctions imposed on head coach Pape Thiaw, as well as players Ismaïla Sarr and Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye, who were among those punished for their conduct during the match.
In line with Article 91.4 of the CAF Disciplinary Code, the FSF stated that it “assumes full financial responsibility for the fines imposed on the association, its technical staff, and its players”.
The federation’s stance is understood as an effort to protect its squad and coaching staff from individual financial burden following a final that was overshadowed by controversy, despite Senegal going on to secure a historic 1-0 victory after extra time.
While accepting the sanctions, the FSF said it remained committed to defending its broader interests, reaffirming its “determination to defend its legitimate rights and interests within football’s governing bodies”, while acting “in strict compliance with its statutory obligations” and in the service of “the integrity of the game and the promotion of African football”.
CAF’s disciplinary action followed events during the final on 18 January in Rabat, which descended into disorder late in normal time.
Senegal’s players temporarily left the pitch in protest after a stoppage-time penalty was awarded to Morocco, moments after a Senegal goal had been disallowed.
Thiaw instructed his players to walk off the field, leading to a delay of approximately 17 minutes before Senegal forward Sadio Mane convinced his team-mates to return and allow the match to resume.
Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missed the resulting penalty, which was saved by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, before Pape Gueye scored the winning goal in the fourth minute of extra time to seal Senegal’s second AFCON title in five years.
CAF later imposed a five-match ban and a $100,000 fine on Thiaw for “unsporting conduct” and “bringing the game into disrepute”.
Sarr and Ndiaye each received two-match bans for “unsporting behaviour towards the referee”, while the FSF was fined a total of $615,000 for breaches of CAF’s disciplinary code, including player misconduct and supporter disorder.
In an Instagram post following the ruling, Thiaw appealed to supporters not to organise fundraisers to assist with paying his fine, saying: “While I understand and appreciate this gesture of generosity, I invite you to redirect these funds to more urgent causes, for the benefit of those who truly need them.”
CAF also fined Morocco’s football federation for misconduct involving ball boys, interference around the video assistant referee area and crowd behaviour. A request by Morocco to have the final result overturned was dismissed.
By choosing to pay all fines and draw a line under the matter, the FSF appears keen to ease tensions, protect its personnel and allow Senegal’s focus to return to football, following a tournament triumph that was celebrated on the pitch but complicated by events off it.
