The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has handed down sweeping sanctions to Senegal and Morocco following the disorderly scenes that overshadowed the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
In a decisive ruling that reinforces its zero-tolerance stance on indiscipline, CAF slapped the two football powerhouses with combined fines exceeding $1 million, alongside multiple suspensions for players and officials involved in the controversy.
Senegal, crowned champions of the tournament, bore the brunt of the punishment with total fines amounting to $615,000. CAF attributed the sanctions to a mix of supporter misconduct, inappropriate conduct by players and officials, and disciplinary breaches during the final match. An additional fine was imposed for accumulated yellow cards.
The Senegalese camp was further hit with individual sanctions. Head coach Pape Thiaw received a five-match suspension from CAF competitions and a personal fine of $100,000 after being found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute. Players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were each banned for two CAF matches for unsporting conduct toward match officials.
Morocco was also heavily penalised, with fines totaling $415,000. CAF cited poor conduct involving stadium ball boys, breaches by players and staff, and the use of laser devices by supporters. Midfielder Ismail Saibari was handed a three-match suspension and a $100,000 fine, while captain Achraf Hakimi will miss two official CAF matches.
In a key aspect of the ruling, CAF rejected Morocco’s appeal challenging the legitimacy of Senegal’s title. The North Africans had argued that Senegal’s brief walk-off during the final constituted abandonment of the match, but CAF dismissed the claim and upheld the result.
The decision officially confirms Senegal as AFCON 2025 champions, securing their second continental title despite the turbulent finale.
CAF said the sanctions are intended to deter future misconduct and safeguard the image of African football on the global stage. With significant fines and bans affecting top players and coaches, the fallout is expected to be felt in upcoming international qualifiers and club competitions across the continent.
