CAF fines Senegal and Morocco after chaotic AFCON 2025 final

The CAF Disciplinary Committee imposed sanctions on the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) and several individuals after concluding that incidents during the final violated the CAF Disciplinary Code, particularly principles of fair play, loyalty and integrity.

Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw received the heaviest individual sanction, being suspended for five official CAF matches for unsporting conduct and for bringing the game into disrepute. He was also fined $100,000.

Two Senegalese players were also punished for their conduct towards match officials, with Everton attacker Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr each suspended for two official CAF matches due to unsporting behaviour towards the referee.

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The FSF was also fined a total of $615,000. This includes a $300,000 fine for the improper conduct of Senegalese supporters, which CAF ruled brought the game into disrepute, and a further $300,000 fine for the unsporting conduct of players and technical staff. 

An additional $15,000 fine was imposed due to five Senegal players receiving cautions during the final.

Morocco were also sanctioned following several incidents during the match. The Atlas Lions captain and defender Achraf Hakimi was suspended for two official CAF competitions matches, with one of those matches suspended for a period of one year, for unsporting behaviour. 

Midfielder Ismaël Saibari received a three-match suspension and was fined $100,000---these sanctions relate to the towel incidents that marred matches involving Morocco. 

The FRMF was fined $315,000 in total---this included a $200,000 fine for the inappropriate behaviour of stadium ball boys during the final, and a $100,000 fine for the conduct of Moroccan players and technical staff who invaded the VAR review area and obstructed the referee’s work, in violation of Articles 82 and 83 of the CAF Disciplinary Code. 

A further $15,000 fine was imposed for the use of lasers by Moroccan supporters.

CAF also dismissed a protest lodged by the FRMF concerning alleged violations by the FSF of Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations during the final, with the DC rejecting the complaint in its entirety.

Senegal won their second AFCON title 1-0 in extra-time, thanks to Pape Gueye’s goal, after Real Madrid and Moroccan attacker Brahim Diaz had missed the penalty that led to the pandemonium in this final.