The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has imposed sweeping disciplinary sanctions on Senegal and Morocco following chaotic scenes that marred the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, bringing a controversial end to one of the tournament’s most dramatic matches. The decisions were announced after CAF’s Disciplinary Board concluded investigations into unsportsmanlike conduct involving players, coaches, officials, and supporters from both sides.
The AFCON final, played in Rabat on January 18, saw Senegal edge Morocco 1–0 after extra time, but the match was overshadowed by heated protests, confrontations with match officials, and disruptions around the pitch and technical areas. CAF ruled that several actions during and after the game breached its Disciplinary Code, warranting firm punishment to protect the integrity of African football.
Among the most notable sanctions was the suspension of Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi, who was handed a two-match CAF ban for unsporting behaviour, with one of the matches suspended on probation for one year. CAF also suspended Senegal head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw for five CAF matches and fined him heavily for conduct deemed to have brought the game into disrepute.
In addition, Senegal players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were each suspended for two CAF matches for inappropriate conduct toward match officials during the tense moments of the final. CAF found that their actions contributed to the breakdown of discipline as emotions flared following contentious refereeing decisions.
CAF also sanctioned Moroccan midfielder Ismaël Saibari with a three-match suspension and a significant fine, citing unsporting behaviour during the match. The governing body stressed that players are expected to show restraint and respect, especially in high-profile fixtures such as a continental final.
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At the federation level, Senegal was hit with fines totaling over half a million dollars for a combination of supporter misconduct, unsporting behaviour by players and officials, and team misconduct related to accumulated cautions. Morocco was similarly fined hundreds of thousands of dollars for issues including interference around the VAR area, the conduct of ball boys, and the use of laser pointers by supporters inside the stadium.
CAF also confirmed that it had dismissed Morocco’s formal protest against the outcome of the final, ruling that the match result would stand despite the controversies. Senegal’s extra-time victory was therefore upheld, officially confirming them as AFCON 2025 champions.
The disciplinary body noted that part of the chaos stemmed from disputes over refereeing decisions, including a disallowed goal and a penalty incident that sparked protests from the Senegal bench and players. At one point, Senegal’s team briefly left the pitch before being persuaded to return, an act CAF described as unacceptable under its competition rules.
In explaining its decisions, CAF said the sanctions were meant to send a clear message that indiscipline, intimidation of officials, and supporter misconduct would not be tolerated, regardless of the stature of the teams or players involved. The body emphasized that respect for match officials and adherence to the rules are non-negotiable pillars of the game.
Reactions are now expected from both federations as African football continues to debate the events of the AFCON 2025 final. While the sanctions have drawn mixed responses from fans and analysts, CAF maintains that its firm stance is necessary to safeguard fair play and restore confidence in the continent’s premier football competition.
