The Africa Cup final also made headlines because of the scenes around the pitch.Bild: keystone
29.01.2026, 10:0929.01.2026, 12:41
In the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Senegal beat the hosts 1-0 in extra time and were crowned continental champions for the second time after 2022. After the game, it was the scenes off the field that caused a stir.
Moroccan ball kids constantly tried to steal Senegal goalie Édouard Mendy’s towel, which he was using to dry his gloves in the pouring rain. Players like Achraf Hakimi and Ismaël Saibari also wanted to ensure that the towel was no longer available to Mendy. And after Senegal had a goal disallowed in the final minutes and then a penalty was called against the Teranga Lions, their fans caused riots. The players themselves left the pitch in protest against the referee’s decisions and almost provoked the game being abandoned.
In the end they returned to the pitch at the behest of Sadio Mané, Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missed the penalty and Senegal still won. Nevertheless, it was clear that what happened during the final in Rabat would have repercussions. The African football association CAF has now announced the penalties against the players and national associations.
Both sides are hit with heavy fines, but Senegal is hit particularly hard:
- Head coach Pape Thiaw has been suspended for five games and fined $100,000 because he ordered his team into the locker room and thus “violated the principles of fair play and integrity.”
- The players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr are each banned for two games for “unsporting behavior towards the referee”.
- The association will be fined $300,000 for the “inappropriate behavior” of its fans.
- The association must pay a further $300,000 in fines because the players and staff “violated the principles of fair play, loyalty and integrity and contributed to the bad reputation of the game.”
- Because five national team players received a yellow card, an additional $15,000 is due.
Coach Pape Thiaw was suspended for five games and fined $100,000.Bild: keystone
In total, the Senegalese have to pay 715,000 US dollars – significantly more than the Moroccans:
- The players Achraf Hakimi and Ismaël Saibari are suspended for two and three games respectively for “unsportsmanlike conduct”. Saibari will also be fined $100,000.
- The association was fined $200,000 for the “inappropriate behavior of the ball boys.”
- The association must pay an additional $100,000 because the players and staff invaded the VAR review area and obstructed the referee’s work. They “violated the principles of fair play and integrity”.
- A fine of an additional $15,000 will be imposed because of the laser pointers used by fans.
Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi threw Senegal goalie Édouard Mendy’s towel over the advertising board.Bild: keystone
The amount of the fine shows that the CAF considered the trip to the Senegalese dressing room to be worse than the harassment of goalie Mendy by the Moroccans. However, the Moroccan Football Association’s protest against the result of the final game was rejected. (nih)
