Mali’s captain, Hamari Traore (32 years old), and Senegalese winger Krepin Diatta (24 years old) have each been suspended for two games following their fiery reactions to their eliminations against host nation Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Ivorians defeated Senegal on penalties in the round of 16, and Diatta was furious with what he deemed to be incorrect decisions by the referees. Diatta described the Confederation of African Football as “corrupt” and was found guilty of discrediting the game, resulting in a $10,000 fine (€9.3 thousand).
In the quarterfinals, Ivory Coast defeated Mali 2-1 in extra time, after which Traore confronted Egyptian referee Mohamed Adel and had to be escorted away by teammates amid the chaos. The player was found guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct.
Both players have been suspended for four games, half of which are suspended for 12 months.
The Malian Football Federation received a $10,000 fine (€9.3 thousand), while the federations of Senegal and Ivory Coast were fined $5,000 (€4.6 thousand) each.
The next official matches for Senegal and Mali are two qualification games for the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for June.
