The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has hit both Senegal and Morocco with a series of stern disciplinary actions following a controversial conclusion to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 final held in Rabat.
Despite Senegal being confirmed as champions of the tournament, CAF’s Disciplinary Board condemned several incidents during the match, describing them as breaches of the organisation’s principles of fair play and conduct.
Sanctions Against Senegal
Senegal bore the brunt of the penalties. Head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw received a five-match ban from official CAF competitions for actions judged to undermine the spirit of the game, along with a $100,000 fine.
Two key players—Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr—each received two-match suspensions for unsporting behaviour toward the referee.
The Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) was also hit with substantial fines totalling $615,000, broken down into:
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$300,000 for improper conduct by supporters,
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$300,000 for unsporting behaviour by players and technical staff, and
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$15,000 for team misconduct after multiple yellow cards were issued.
Sanctions Against Morocco
Morocco’s disciplinary measures also targeted both players and federation conduct. Defender Achraf Hakimi was suspended for two CAF matches for unsporting behaviour, with one match of that suspension deferred for a year.
Midfielder Ismaël Saibari was handed a three-match ban and fined $100,000.
The Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) received fines totalling $315,000 for several breaches, including:
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$200,000 over inappropriate actions by ball boys,
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$100,000 after players and staff obstructed the referee in the VAR review area, and
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$15,000 because supporters used laser devices during the final.
Protest Rejected
CAF also dismissed a formal protest lodged by the Moroccan federation, which claimed Senegal had violated certain AFCON regulations. The disciplinary board upheld the match result, leaving Senegal’s victory intact
By Breaking Kenya News
