The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has handed down sweeping disciplinary sanctions against Senegal and Morocco, including hefty fines, match suspensions and official bans, following a series of incidents that overshadowed the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 final.
CAF said the actions of players, coaches, officials and supporters during and after the final breached multiple provisions of its Disciplinary Code, undermining fair play, integrity and the image of African football.
Senegal Hit With Heaviest Punishments
The Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) emerged as the most sanctioned federation, with penalties imposed on both individuals and the federation itself.
Coach Ban and Fine
Senegal head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw was suspended for five official CAF matches for unsporting conduct. CAF ruled that his behaviour violated principles of fair play and brought the game into disrepute. He was also fined USD 100,000.
Player Suspensions
Two Senegalese players were sanctioned for misconduct towards match officials:
- Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye – two-match CAF suspension
- Ismaila Sarr – two-match CAF suspension
CAF described their actions as unsporting behaviour towards the referee.
Federation-Level Fines
CAF imposed multiple financial penalties on the FSF:
- USD 300,000 for improper conduct of supporters
- USD 300,000 for unsporting conduct by players and technical staff
- USD 15,000 for team misconduct after five players were cautioned during the match
According to CAF, the violations breached principles of fair play, loyalty and integrity
Morocco Penalised Over Player Conduct, VAR Incident, Supporters
The Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) was also sanctioned over a range of incidents involving players, officials and spectators.
Player Sanctions
- Achraf Hakimi received a two-match CAF suspension, with one match suspended for one year, for unsporting behaviour.
- Ismaël Saibari was handed a three-match suspension and fined USD 100,000.
VAR Area Invasion
CAF fined the Moroccan federation USD 100,000 after players and members of the technical staff invaded the VAR review area and interfered with the referee’s duties. The action was ruled a violation of Articles 82 and 83 of the Disciplinary Code.
Other Financial Penalties
Additional fines imposed on the FRMF include:
- USD 200,000 for inappropriate conduct by stadium ball boys
- USD 15,000 for supporters’ use of laser devices during the final
CAF Dismisses Morocco’s Protest
CAF also ruled on a formal protest lodged by Morocco, which alleged that Senegal breached Articles 82 and 84 of AFCON regulations during the final.
The Disciplinary Board rejected the protest in its entirety, ruling that the claims against Senegal were not substantiated.
CAF Reaffirms Zero-Tolerance Stance
In its ruling, CAF reiterated its commitment to enforcing discipline and protecting the integrity of its competitions, stressing that misconduct at flagship tournaments would attract firm consequences.
Why This Matters
The AFCON final is CAF’s most-watched event, and officials say maintaining discipline is critical to safeguarding the credibility, commercial value and global reputation of African football
