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Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye Sanctioned After Ugly Scenes At AFCON Final

Iliman Ndiaye pictured playing for Everton

Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye has learned his punishment after his involvement in unsavoury scenes during last week’s AFCON final.

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) took place this month, with Senegal defeating Morocco 1-0 in extra time to win the title.

However, Senegal’s AFCON triumph was marred by controversy, with bizarre and ugly scenes unfolding.

Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty moments after Senegal had a late winner ruled out.

A furious Senegal manager Pape Thiaw then led the Senegalese players off the pitch in protest, causing a long delay.

Fourteen minutes later, play resumed, with Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missing the penalty to send the game into extra time.

Senegal went on to win thanks to Pape Gueye’s 94th-minute strike.

But the fallout from the final has been drastic. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) questioned players and staff from both sides in the aftermath.

Iliman Ndiaye Among Those Sanctioned After AFCON Final

After representatives of both Morocco and Senegal were hauled in front of the CAF disciplinary comittee, sanctions have now been dished out.

Among those to face punishment was Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye.

Ndiaye was one of two Senegal players questioned, along with Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr.

Manager Pape Thiaw also appeared before the committee, as did Morocco’s Ismael Saibari and Achraf Hakimi.

Everton winger Ndiaye has been handed a two-match ban for “unsporting behaviour towards the referee”.

He will therefore be suspended for Senegal’s next two CAF matches, in a big blow for the African champions.

Emotions naturally run high on the biggest stage, especially in such heated circumstances.

But Ndiaye’s punishment will hopefully be a lesson in controlling his temperament.

Who Else Has Been Sanctioned For AFCON Final Conduct?

Ndoaye was far from the only man to receive punishment from CAF for his actions in the AFCON final.

Senegal manager Thiaw has been given a five-game ban and a £72,000 fine for “unsporting conduct” and “bringing the game into disrepute”.

Like Ndiaye, Crystal Palace’s Sarr has been given an identical two-game ban, with the same reasoning.

And the Senegalese Football Federation has been fined £440,000 for the “improper conduct of their supporters, unsporting conduct of their players and technical staff, and misconduct of their National Team, due to five of their players having received cautions”.

As for Morocco, Hakimi was banned for two games, with one of those games suspended for 12 months, due to unsporting behaviour.

Ismael Saibari received a three-game ban and £72,000 fine for unsporting behaviour.

And the Moroccan FA has been fined £230,000 for “inappropriate behaviour of the stadium’s ball boys during the aforementioned match, improper conduct of their National Team players and technical staff, and use of lasers by their supporters”.

As the ban only affects CAF matches, all players will be free to play at the World Cup this summer.

And for Ndiaye and Sarr, their sanctioned will have no effect on their club availbility.

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