The Senegalese Football Federation announced on Saturday evening its position regarding the sanctions imposed by the African Football Confederation, expressing full acceptance of the disciplinary decision issued by the CAF Disciplinary Committee on January 28, 2026.
In a statement to the public both within Senegal and abroad, the federation confirmed that it had closely reviewed the details of the disciplinary decision and concluded not to pursue any appeal, whether regarding the sporting penalties or the accompanying financial fines. This decision not to appeal also encompasses the individual sanctions that affected Senegalese national team coach Pape Bouna Thiaw, along with players Ismaïla Sarr and Elimane Cissé Baroy Ndiaye, emphasizing its commitment to respecting the disciplinary measures taken against them.
In contrast, the decision has raised a wave of questions within African football circles, with analysts expressing surprise at what they described as “light sanctions” against the Senegalese federation, especially in light of the serious incidents that occurred during the match, including the team’s withdrawal from the pitch and the storming of the field by its fans in scenes deemed a dangerous precedent affecting safety and discipline in continental competitions. Many believe that the severity of the events warranted stricter measures to ensure fairness in decisions and to deter such behaviors in the future.
