The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) Disciplinary Board has imposed a series of sanctions on Senegal, Morocco, and several players and officials following incidents during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 final.
In a statement released on its official website on Thursday, after reviewing reports from the match, CAF said the actions taken were for violations of the CAF Disciplinary Code, citing unsporting conduct, improper behaviour, and actions that brought the game into disrepute.
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Senegal was hit with multiple sanctions, including the suspension of the national team head coach, Pape Bouna Thiaw. CAF suspended Thiaw for five official CAF matches for unsporting conduct and fined him USD 100,000. Two Senegalese players, Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr, were each suspended for two official CAF matches for unsporting behaviour towards the referee.
CAF also fined the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) a total of USD 615,000. This included USD 300,000 for the improper conduct of its supporters, another USD 300,000 for the unsporting conduct of players and technical staff, and USD 15,000 after five Senegalese players received cautions during the match.
On the Moroccan side, CAF suspended Achraf Hakimi for two official CAF matches, with one of those matches suspended for one year from the date of the decision, for unsporting behaviour. Another player, Ismaël Saibari, was suspended for three official CAF matches and fined USD 100,000 for similar conduct.
The Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) was also fined USD 315,000. CAF imposed a USD 200,000 fine over the inappropriate behaviour of the stadium’s ball boys, USD 100,000 for the invasion of the VAR review area by players and technical staff, and USD 15,000 for the use of lasers by supporters during the final.
CAF further disclosed that it rejected a protest lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football regarding alleged violations by the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football of Articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations. The disciplinary body said the protest, which stemmed from the AFCON final, did not meet the required grounds for sanctions.
The CAF Disciplinary Board said the decisions were taken to uphold the principles of fair play, integrity, and respect for match officials during CAF competitions.
