AFCON 2025: How Senegal is preparing its response to possible sanctions

Morocco’s complaint sets the powder on fire
The good weather seems to give way to a storm for Senegal. The Lions have just earned a 2nd star as African champions after their 1-0 overtime victory over Morocco. A sulphurous encounter on the meadow, in the stands, but also on the administrative ground. Indeed, the Moroccan Federation has, in the wake of the defeat, filed a complaint against Senegal with FIFA and the CAF. She notably reproaches the Lions of Senegal for their decision to "temporarily" leave the field.

The strong utterances  of the FIFA president for a CAF event could force the disciplinary bodies to heavily sanction the FSF and the coach Pape Thiaw. Everything starts from the referee decisions of the Congolese Jean-Jacques Ndala in an unbreathable end of the match. The man in black from this final will remain in posterity but not for good reasons. His whistle rushed in additional time deprives Senegal of a goal by Ismaïla Sarr, for an imaginary foul by Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi. A decision that will not be reviewed by the VAR. A few minutes later, the referee is invited by video assistance to check a duel between Brahim Diaz and Elhadj Malick Diouf. He grants a penalty to Morocco and the final basically takes a nosedive.


Pending decisions of the CAF disciplinary commission
In history, few similar situations had occurred in the recent past. Argentina refused to start a meeting against Brazil in November 2023 for scenes of violence in the stands. Still, the circumstances were different from those of January 18. The decision of the Lions' coach could be deemed opportune by a large majority of fans, but it remains a serious offense, violating the very spirit of the game. And this, regardless of the referee’s error.


The happy outcome for Senegal further exacerbates this unfortunate gesture and exposes the Senegalese Football Federation to a large financial fine. Like the sanctions imposed on Algeria after the assaults on players on the field and journalists in the mixed zone during the quarter final against Nigeria. Pape Thiaw, for his part, could serve as an example to dissuade any coach from acting in this way regardless of the referee’s decision. The 44-year-old technician risks several suspension matches on the Senegal bench. Will the commission take into account extenuating circumstances with the absence of a re-viewing of Ismaïla Sarr’s goal?


Senegal ready to respond to threats of sanctions

«We had apprehensions about the arbitration before the match. We received a late  notification of the designation of the referee for the final. The recusation deadline was exceeded at the time this was received. We had previously worked on a letter of recusation and protest. It’s as if we had felt that such a thing was going to happen. When we see the match, there has been a succession of game events. That’s what unfortunately led to the overflows. It was necessary to denounce him. But we pulled ourselves together to get back on the ground. Whatever happened, it was necessary to respect the rules, that’s what we did in the end. We sent a correspondence to FIFA during the half-time»,
revealed Abdoulaye Fall to the microphone of the RTS after the coronation.

The Senegalese leaders are already preparing their defense against possible sanctions from the CAF disciplinary commission, composed of independent judges from several African countries. «The complaint from Morocco does not shake us, it is inherent in today’s football. After each match, we receive notifications from the CAF disciplinary commission. We respond with a factual argument. For future notifications from the commission, we are confident and will respond with solid arguments," said Mr. Fall.

Contacted by Sport News Africa, this member of the executive committee maintains that in case of sanctions in the first instance, 

"the FSF will appeal to this same commission." He continues: "Senegal could resort to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in case of rejection of a possible appeal by the commission."

An appeal to the Swiss federal court is being considered by the Senegalese federals. Even though it is not excluded that the Senegalese Football Federation sends a letter to make amends after the clumsy gesture of the Senegalese coach.