Senegal Football Federation Issues Official Statement Following CAF Disciplinary Hearing
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has formally released an official statement confirming its appearance before the Confederation of African Football's disciplinary committee. This development follows the controversial incidents that marred the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final match between Senegal and Morocco on January 18.
CAF's Investigation into AFCON Final Controversy
The Confederation of African Football has launched multiple comprehensive investigations into what it has described as "unacceptable scenes" during the championship match. The final, which featured the Teranga Lions of Senegal against the Atlas Lions of Morocco, was disrupted for seventeen minutes when Senegal's head coach Pape Thiaw instructed his players to leave the pitch in protest against referee Jean-Jacques Ndala's decision to award Morocco a penalty.
Captain Sadio Mane eventually recalled his teammates after consulting with football legends Mamadou Niang, Claude Le Roy, and El Hadji Diouf, who advised completing the match. Moroccan player Brahim Diaz subsequently missed the penalty, and the game proceeded to extra time, where Pape Gueye scored the winning goal for Senegal.
Formal Hearing and Representation
The Senegalese Football Federation published its detailed statement across official social media platforms, confirming that the hearing took place on Tuesday, January 27. According to the federation, the disciplinary procedure was initiated based on official match reports and a formal petition submitted by Morocco's Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
FSF was represented at the crucial hearing by Secretary General Mamadou Diouf, who received legal assistance from Attorney Seydou Diagne. Head coach Pape Thiaw, along with players Ismaila Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye, also appeared before the disciplinary panel to present their defenses against the charges brought against them.
Expected Verdict and Social Media Speculation
The disciplinary committee has taken the case under advisement and is expected to announce its decision within forty-eight hours, as confirmed by the statement. This timeline was specifically set by the Chair of the Committee, bringing much-needed clarity to the numerous rumors circulating on social media platforms regarding potential sanctions against the Senegalese delegation.
There has been widespread speculation about possible lengthy bans and substantial fines, particularly targeting head coach Thiaw for his role in instigating the pitch withdrawal. Interestingly, the federation's statement did not mention goalkeeper Édouard Mendy as part of those who faced the disciplinary committee, despite previous online reports suggesting otherwise.
Morocco's Formal Complaint and FIFA's Position
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation confirmed it had submitted an official petition to both CAF and FIFA regarding Senegal's temporary withdrawal from the match, arguing that this action significantly impacted player performance and the final result. CAF acknowledged receipt of the petition and relevant match footage before referring the matter to its Ethics and Disciplinary Committee for thorough investigation and potential sanctions.
Meanwhile, FIFA has maintained a neutral stance regarding the incident, despite President Gianni Infantino's earlier strong statements about the final match controversy. The world football governing body has sent a formal message to CAF ahead of the African body's verdict on Senegal's case, emphasizing procedural fairness while allowing the continental organization to handle its disciplinary matters independently.
Social media reports have also suggested that Moroccan stars Achraf Hakimi and Ismail Saibari were questioned about their involvement in a separate towel incident during the match, though official confirmation remains pending. The football community across Africa now awaits CAF's decisive ruling, which could have significant implications for both national teams and future tournament regulations.
