Mali captain Hamari Traore, aged 32, and Senegal winger Krepin Diatta, aged 24, have both been handed two-match suspensions for their contentious reactions during the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Diatta’s frustrations boiled over after Senegal’s last-16 exit against Ivory Coast, where he vehemently contested referee decisions and criticized the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as “corrupt.” His outburst led to a charge of bringing the game into disrepute and a fine of $10,000.
Traore, on the other hand, faced disciplinary action after Mali’s quarter-final defeat to Ivory Coast, during which he confronted the referee and engaged in unsporting conduct. He was also slapped with a four-game ban, with half of the punishment suspended for 12 months.
Additionally, Mali’s football federation received a $10,000 fine, while the Senegalese and Ivorian federations were fined $5,000 each for the misconduct of their players.
The suspensions come with Senegal and Mali gearing up for their next competitive fixtures, which are a pair of 2026 World Cup qualifiers scheduled for June.
