FIFA could ban Senegal from playing the World Cup 2026 after walking off the pitch during the AFCON final

FIFA could ban Senegal from playing the World Cup 2026 after walking off the pitch during the AFCON final

It wasn't long after the Senegalese players celebrated lifting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations trophy in the heart of the Moroccan capital, Rabat, that the specter of severe sanctions began to loom. Behind the triumphant celebrations, the final match witnessed events described as the "most chaotic" in the history of the continental tournament, after the Senegalese team stormed off the pitch in protest against a refereeing decision. This action did not go unnoticed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who attended the match and expressed his outrage, hinting that "football cannot tolerate such scenes." The Confederation of African Football (CAF) issued a shocking disciplinary decision on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, suspending Senegalese coach Pape Thiaw for his conduct during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco. CAF deemed Thiaw's attempt to remove his players from the pitch in protest against a penalty awarded to Morocco in the eighth minute o…