Pape Thiaw, the head coach of Senegal’s national team, has publicly responded to the sanctions placed on him by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following the turbulent 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final. In a move highlighting his character, he has asked supporters to stop raising money for his fine and to help those in need instead.
CAF issued suspensions and fines to both Senegal and Morocco after the AFCON Final which was marred by a major dispute. Senegal won the title 1-0 after extra time, but the game was stopped for several minutes. This happened after Coach Thiaw led his players off the field to protest a late penalty call against his team. The players returned, Morocco missed the penalty, and Senegal secured the victory.
As part of the ruling, Thiaw received a five-match ban from CAF competitions and a personal fine of $100,000. The total fines for the Senegalese football federation reached $615,000.
The news of Thiaw’s fine prompted an immediate wave of support from fans and well-wishers, who began organizing online fundraising campaigns to cover the cost for their national coach.
However, in a statement released, the AFCON-winning coach expressed his deep gratitude but firmly declined the financial help.
“People of Senegal, my family,” Thiaw said, “Your solidarity since the announcement of the sanctions has touched me deeply. Thank you for the love you show me every day.”
He continued with a humble request: “However, I humbly ask you not to organise fundraisers in my name. While I understand and appreciate this gesture of generosity, I invite you to redirect these funds to more urgent causes, for the benefit of those who truly need them.”
This appeal has redirected public attention from the controversy of the final to an act of social responsibility.
Despite the five-match suspension, Pape Thiaw is expected to be back on the sidelines to lead the Lions of Teranga when they compete at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.