The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has imposed heavy fines and suspensions on Senegal and Morocco following the chaotic AFCON 2025 final in Rabat, which was marred by protests, VAR disputes, and a dramatic late walk-off by the Senegalese team.
In disciplinary decisions released on Wednesday, CAF said the sanctions reflect its commitment to fair play, discipline, and respect for match officials at Africa’s biggest football tournament.
Senegal emerged champions of AFCON 2025 after CAF rejected a formal protest filed by Morocco seeking to have the West Africans stripped of the title. The appeal was dismissed, confirming Senegal’s victory despite the controversies that overshadowed the final.
The Senegal Football Federation (FSF) was fined a total of USD 615,000. This included USD 300,000 for supporters’ improper conduct, USD 300,000 for unsporting behaviour by players and officials and for bringing the game into disrepute, and USD 15,000 for misconduct linked to five yellow cards received by Senegalese players during the match.
Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw was suspended for five official CAF matches and fined USD 100,000 for bringing the game into disrepute.
Players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr were each handed two-match CAF suspensions for unsporting behaviour towards the match referee.
On the Moroccan side, captain Achraf Hakimi received a two-match suspension for unsporting conduct. One of the bans has been conditionally suspended for one year and will only be enforced if a similar offence occurs within that period.
Midfielder Ismaël Saibari was suspended for three matches and fined USD 100,000 for unsporting behaviour during the final.
CAF also fined the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) a total of USD 315,000 for multiple disciplinary breaches. This included USD 200,000 for the inappropriate conduct of stadium ball boys, whose actions disrupted play, USD 100,000 for Moroccan players and technical staff invading the VAR review area and interfering with match officials, and USD 15,000 for supporters’ use of laser pointers inside the stadium.
CAF described the incidents as unacceptable and warned that future violations of similar nature would attract even harsher penalties.
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