AFCON 2025: When Senegal Expect Verdict After CAF Meeting

The dust has barely settled on the pitch of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, yet the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final continues to be played out in the committee rooms of Cairo.

Following a high-stakes disciplinary hearing on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) and its fans are now in a tense waiting game.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially taken the matter under deliberation, with a final verdict expected within 48 hours.

The proceedings on Tuesday culminated a week of escalating tensions between Senegal and Morocco. The FSF delegation, led by its Secretary General and supported by prominent legal counsel Maître Seydou Diagne, faced a CAF Disciplinary Jury to answer for the chaotic scenes that marred the final minutes of the tournament’s showpiece event.

Crucially, the hearing included personal testimonies from the men at the centre of the storm. Head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw, along with star players Ismaïla Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye, were heard by the jury.

Their defence likely focused on the heat of the moment emotions triggered by a controversial late penalty award to Morocco and a previously disallowed Senegalese goal, both incidents that led to a 14-minute pitch walk-off and subsequent fan unrest.

“The disciplinary body has taken the matter under deliberation and will notify its decision within forty-eight (48) hours, a deadline set by the President of the Jury,” the statement read in part.

While Senegal ultimately secured a 1-0 victory in extra time to claim their second continental title, the ‘how’ of that victory is what CAF is scrutinising.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation filed formal complaints regarding the walk-off, arguing it disrupted the match's integrity and affected their players' psychological state, notably before Brahim Díaz missed the decisive penalty.

Reports have already suggested that coach Pape Thiaw could face a multi-match ban for instructing players to leave the field. Sarr and Ndiaye may face fines or short-term suspensions if found to have used inappropriate language toward match officials.

The FSF could be hit with heavy financial penalties or a mandate to play future matches behind closed doors due to the pitch invasion attempts by supporters.

In a move to ensure total transparency, CAF took the significant step of recusing the President of the Disciplinary Jury, Ousmane Kane, because of his Senegalese nationality.

According to the official press statement released by the FSF, the President of the Jury has set a 48-hour deadline for notification. This places the expected announcement on Thursday, January 29, 2026.