The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has handed down a raft of stringent sanctions against Senegal and Morocco following serious disciplinary breaches during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 final.
In a statement issued after deliberations by its Disciplinary Board, CAF confirmed that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), as well as several players and officials, were found guilty of violating provisions of the CAF Disciplinary Code, particularly those relating to fair play, integrity and conduct that brought the game into disrepute.
Senegal bore the brunt of the sanctions. Head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw was suspended for five official CAF matches and fined USD 100,000 for unsporting conduct deemed to have damaged the image of the game. Two Senegalese players, Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr, were each handed two-match suspensions for inappropriate behaviour towards the referee during the heated final.
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The FSF was also hit with substantial financial penalties. CAF imposed a USD 300,000 fine for the improper conduct of Senegalese supporters, as well as another USD 300,000 fine for unsporting behaviour by the team’s players and technical staff. An additional USD 15,000 fine was levied after five Senegal players received cautions during the match.
Morocco was not spared, with CAF citing multiple breaches involving players, officials and match-day operations. Star defender Achraf Hakimi received a two-match suspension, although one match was suspended for a year, while midfielder Ismaël Saibari was banned for three matches and fined USD 100,000 for unsporting behaviour.
The FRMF was fined USD 200,000 over the inappropriate conduct of stadium ball boys, while another USD 100,000 fine was imposed after Moroccan players and technical staff invaded the VAR review area and obstructed the referee’s duties. A further USD 15,000 fine followed reports of supporters using laser devices during the final.
CAF also addressed a formal protest lodged by the FRMF against Senegal, citing alleged violations of Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations. The Disciplinary Board rejected the protest in its entirety, ruling that the claims were unfounded.
This means that CAF rejected Morocco’s appeal, which argued that Senegal should be stripped of the title for abandoning the match after walking off the pitch. Hence, Senegal have officially been declared AFCON 2025 winners.
Below is the full breakdown of CAF’s sanctions imposed on the two teams:
Senegal
■ Fined $615,000 in total, being:
– being $300,000 for supporters’ misbehaviour
– $300,000 for players/staff misbehaviour and
– $15,000 for five yellow cards received in the final.
■ Pape Thiaw suspended for 5 official CAF matches + $100,000 for bringing the game into disrepute.
■ Senegal players Iliman Ndiaye & Ismaila Sarr suspended for 2 official CAF matches each, for unsporting behaviour towards the referee.
■ Fined $315,000 in total, being:
– $200,000 for stadium ball boys’ misbehaviour
– $100,000 for players/staff misbehaviour
– $15,000 for fans’ use of lasers