France, Jan. 30 -- The Confederation of African Football (CAF)banned Thiaw for five of its matches and fined him $100,000, it announced on Thursday.

In a statement it said the coach was guilty of "unsporting conduct" and "bringing the game into disrepute" during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) decider in Rabat on 18 January - where Senegal's players left the field during play, apparently after a signal from Thiaw.

Senegal- which won the match 1-0 after extra time - says it intends to appeal the decision.

"Everything that can be done to mitigate this sanction, we will do," the country's Minister for Youth and Sports, Khady Diene Gaye, told reporters following the announcement. "I don't think it's in the interests of our team for its coa...