Senegal’s coach Pape Thiaw and Morocco’s captain Achraf Hakimi are facing bans following the chaotic Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final. The match saw Senegal clinch a dramatic 1-0 victory against Morocco amid contentious officiating. Following a controversial disallowed goal and a soft penalty awarded against Senegal, Thiaw urged his players to leave the field in protest.

AFCON Poster

Eventually, after a lengthy stoppage, the game resumed, with Pape Gueye scoring the winning goal in extra time. FIFA president Gianni Infantino denounced the incident as “unacceptable,” condemning the behavior of some supporters and Senegalese players.

Match Escalation

The AFCON final quickly escalated into chaos after Nigeria disallowed a clear goal from Abdoulaye Seck and shortly awarded Morocco a dubious penalty. After Thiaw’s invocation for his players to leave the pitch, the referee, Jean-Jacques Ndala, played a crucial role in the ensuing chaos.

Thiaw received a five-match ban and a £72,000 fine for unsporting conduct. Furthermore, the Senegal FA faced severe fines totaling £445,000 due to the unrest involving their fans. In contrast, players from both teams, including Illiman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr from Everton and Crystal Palace respectively, received two-match suspensions.

Future Implications

As the World Cup approaches, both nations will compete, with Senegal in Group I featuring France and Norway, and Morocco in Group C alongside Brazil and Haiti. However, with Thiaw’s suspension looming, his availability for the tournament remains uncertain.

Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane commended his teammates for prevailing over the chaos, emphasizing that respect for the game should always take precedence.

“I stayed and asked, ‘Is this a good idea or not?’ and later decided it was best to return to the pitch,” Mane explained, highlighting the importance of maintaining composure during the match.