CAF imposes sanctions after chaos in Africa Cup final and rejects Morocco's complaint
Sports penalties and million-pound fines for Senegal and Morocco for incidents at AFCON 2025, with particular controversy over CAF's refusal to apply its own rules on abandoning the pitch
- Sanctions against Senegal
- Sanctions against Morocco
- Morocco's protest and application of Articles 82 and 84
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced its disciplinary decisions following the serious incidents that marred the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco.
The match was overshadowed by scenes of extreme tension, prolonged interruptions and an attempted abandonment of the pitch which, despite being clearly defined in the regulations, did not have the sporting consequences expected by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. The sanctions, which are limited to CAF competitions, have been met with great controversy and have left a feeling of inadequacy in the face of an episode without recent precedent in a continental tournament final.
Sanctions against Senegal
The heaviest fine was imposed on Pape Bouna Thiaw, Senegal's coach. For CAF, the Senegalese coach's decision to order his players to leave the pitch has resulted in a five-match suspension from continental competitions, as well as a fine of 100,000 dollars. The body concluded that Thiaw's conduct ‘goes against the principles of fair play and integrity’. CAF thus points to the Senegal coach as the main cause of the chaos in the final moments of the match prior to Brahim Díaz's missed penalty kick.
As for the other sanctions, CAF ‘punished’ two key players from the Senegalese team: Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr. Both players have been handed two-match bans by CAF for their conduct towards the referee.
However, the most severe punishment has been handed down to the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF). Senegal's highest football authority was fined $300,000 for the inappropriate behaviour of its fans, which included attempts to invade the stadium, destruction of seats and clashes with security personnel. A further 300,000 was added for the unsportsmanlike behaviour of the players in unanimously leaving the pitch.
Sanctions against Morocco
Morocco, for its part, was also subject to disciplinary decisions, as was to be expected.
One of those affected was Achraf Hakimi for his behaviour towards the referee due to the decisions taken by the latter, for which he has been suspended for two matches. Another player who was sanctioned was Dutch PSV player Ismaël Saibari, who received a heavier sporting sanction: he was suspended for three official matches and, on top of that, was fined 100,000 dollars. Both Achraf and Saibari will miss the first matches of the World Cup to be held this summer in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
As for the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), CAF imposed several fines. The most significant, 200,000, dollars is related to the inappropriate behaviour of the ball boys at the stadium, a factor that the organisation considers to have disrupted the flow of the game. Added to this is a 100,000 fine for the conduct of players and coaching staff who invaded the VAR review area and obstructed the referee's work. Overall, the financial penalties imposed on Morocco amount to 315,000 dollars.
Morocco's protest and application of Articles 82 and 84
However, the most controversial decision was the rejection of the Moroccan Federation's complaints based on Articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations. These articles clearly state that the abandonment of the match by one of the two teams without the referee's consent results in the immediate defeat of that team by 3-0.
These provisions accurately describe what happened during the final, when Senegal left the field for several minutes amid chaos and pressure. Despite this clear regulatory framework, CAF dismissed the protest without offering a detailed explanation of its legal reasoning, which has fuelled criticism and a sense of grievance.
Pending a possible appeal and whether FIFA decides to intervene ex officio, the sanctions leave an uneven balance. Financial penalties and limited suspensions, but no direct sporting consequences on the result of a final marked by chaos. A resolution that, far from closing the episode, keeps open the debate on the actual application of the regulations and the disciplinary credibility of CAF in its most emblematic competitions.