The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has come down with the full weight of its disciplinary arm, handing out sweeping sanctions to Morocco and Senegal after the explosive fallout from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.
In a statement published on its official platform, CAF confirmed that its Disciplinary Board imposed the penalties after establishing multiple breaches of the CAF Disciplinary Code stemming from chaotic scenes during and after the final showdown.
Morocco Hit With Player Bans, Heavy Fines
Morocco bore the brunt of CAF’s disciplinary crackdown, with both players and the federation punished.
Star right-back Achraf Hakimi was handed a two-match CAF suspension, with one match suspended for a one-year probation period, after being found guilty of unsporting conduct.
Midfielder Ismaël Saibari received an even stiffer punishment — a three-match suspension alongside a USD 100,000 fine for misconduct.
CAF also imposed severe financial penalties on the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF):
- USD 200,000 for the inappropriate behaviour of stadium ball boys during the final
- USD 100,000 for improper conduct by Moroccan players and technical staff, who invaded the VAR review zone and interfered with match officials, in violation of Articles 82 and 83 of the CAF Disciplinary Code
- USD 15,000 for the use of laser devices by Moroccan supporters during play
CAF Throws Out Morocco’s Protest
CAF confirmed that it dismissed a formal protest filed by the FRMF, which accused Senegal of breaching Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON Regulations.
According to CAF, the Disciplinary Board found no merit in Morocco’s claims against the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) concerning the TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 Final.
Senegal Also Sanctioned
Senegal did not escape CAF’s iron fist.
Head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw was slapped with a five-match CAF suspension and fined USD 100,000 for unsporting conduct.
Two Senegalese players — Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr — were each banned for two official CAF matches after being cited for misconduct towards match officials.
CAF also fined the FSF a cumulative USD 615,000, broken down as follows:
- USD 300,000 for the unruly behaviour of Senegalese supporters, which brought the game into disrepute
- USD 300,000 for the unsporting conduct of players and technical staff, deemed damaging to the image of African football
- USD 15,000 for team misconduct after five Senegalese players were booked during the final
With these sanctions, CAF has sent a clear message: indiscipline at Africa’s biggest football stage will be met with zero tolerance and maximum punishment.
