Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has issued a series of disciplinary sanctions against the football federations of Senegal and Morocco, as well as several players and officials, following incidents during and after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final held in Rabat, Morocco. The decisions come after an intensely contested match on 18 January 2026, which Senegal won 1‑0 in extra time but was marred by protests, unsporting conduct and clashes involving players, coaching staff and supporters.
At the centre of CAF’s disciplinary action is Senegal’s head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw, who was suspended for five official CAF matches and fined USD 100,000 for “unsporting conduct” and for actions judged to have brought the game into disrepute. Senegalese forwards Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr were handed two‑match suspensions each for unsporting behaviour towards match officials. The Senegal Football Federation (FSF) itself received multiple fines totalling USD 615,000, including USD 300,000 for improper conduct by supporters, USD 300,000 for the unsporting conduct of players and technical staff, and USD 15,000 due to team misconduct after five players were booked.
On the Moroccan side, captain Achraf Hakimi was suspended for two CAF matches, with one of those matches suspended on probation for a year, for unsporting behaviour during the final. Midfielder Ismaël Saibari received a three‑match suspension and a USD 100,000 fine for similar misconduct. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) was fined a total of USD 315,000 in separate penalties. These included USD 200,000 for the inappropriate behaviour of ball boys during the match, USD 100,000 for players and technical staff invading the VAR review area and obstructing the referee’s work, and USD 15,000 for the use of lasers by supporters.
CAF’s Disciplinary Board also reviewed a protest lodged by the FRMF alleging violations by Senegal under the AFCON regulations. After review, the board rejected Morocco’s protest in its entirety, closing that aspect of the case and affirming the original result of the final.
The sanctions reflect a broad interpretation of CAF’s Disciplinary Code, particularly the principles of fair play, integrity and respect for officials and match procedures. The final had already drawn widespread attention for its dramatic late‑game events, including a late penalty award to Morocco that triggered heated protests from Senegal’s players and coaching staff. The situation escalated when, at one point, Senegal’s coach ordered his team off the pitch in protest before they ultimately returned to play.
CAF’s statement underscored the governing body’s position that conduct undermining the authority of referees, interfering with VAR operations or generating disorder among supporters would be met with stringent disciplinary measures. The involvement of stadium ball boys in inappropriate behaviour and the use of laser pointers by fans were specifically cited as violations warranting financial penalties against the Moroccan federation.
Reactions to the sanctions have varied across the football community. Some commentators argue that the penalties are necessary to uphold discipline and the integrity of the competition, while others have questioned whether the sanctions sufficiently address the scale of disruptions that occurred during the final. Debate has also emerged about how such disciplinary actions might influence future CAF competitions and whether individual sanctions on players and coaches could affect team preparations for forthcoming tournaments.
In Senegal, the heavy fine against the FSF and the bans on key figures have highlighted tensions between asserting authority and managing competitive spirit in high‑stakes matches. The reprimands against supporters and team officials reflect CAF’s broader strategy to discourage behaviour that could tarnish the image of African football. Meanwhile, in Morocco, the sanctions against players and fines for ball boys and supporters point to the governing body’s intent to regulate all facets of matchday conduct, from athletes to auxiliary personnel and fan involvement.
Sports governing bodies, including CAF, routinely invoke disciplinary codes to maintain order and fairness, but the AFCON 2025 final incident has become one of the more high‑profile tests of those regulations in recent years. The level of sanctioning, particularly the suspension of a national team coach and player bans, indicates an emphasis on accountability at all levels.
While the sanctions apply to CAF‑organised competitions, they do not extend automatically to global events such as the FIFA World Cup, although disciplinary records may still be noted by other governing bodies for future eligibility considerations. CAF’s statement reaffirmed that these measures are confined to its jurisdiction and are focused on behaviour during African competitions.
The AFCON final itself will be remembered not just for Senegal’s victory but for how the game’s climax reverberated through African football governance. In issuing these sanctions, CAF has underscored its commitment to enforcing standards of conduct, even as debates continue about how best to balance competitive intensity with respect for the rules and the spirit of the sport.
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