CAF Imposes Major Sanctions on Senegal and Morocco After AFCON 2025 Final

CAF Imposes Major Sanctions on Senegal and Morocco After AFCON 2025 Final

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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has taken decisive disciplinary action against the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) and the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) following controversial incidents during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 Final held in Morocco.

What Happened in the AFCON 2025 Final?

The dramatic final between Senegal and Morocco culminated in a 1–0 extra-time victory for Senegal, but not without controversy surrounding a late VAR decision, a temporary walk-off by the Senegal team, pitch protests and unsporting conduct from players and officials.

Following these events, CAF’s Disciplinary Board reviewed actions that it determined breached key principles in the CAF Disciplinary Code, including fair play, integrity, respect for officials, and orderly conduct.

Sanctions Against the Senegal Football Federation (FSF)

CAF issued multiple penalties against the Senegal federation and its representatives:

Coach & Player Suspensions

Pape Bouna Thiaw, Senegal’s head coach, received a 5-match suspension from CAF competitions and was fined USD 100,000 for unsporting conduct and bringing the game into disrepute.
Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were each suspended for 2 official CAF matches for unsporting behaviour toward the referee.

Federation Fines

Senegal’s federation faced significant financial penalties:

USD 300,000 for the improper conduct of its supporters;
USD 300,000 for unsporting actions by players and technical staff;
USD 15,000 for team misconduct after multiple cautions.

Total fines: USD 615,000 for FSF.

Sanctions on the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF)

Morocco also received sanctions for breaches during the final:

Player Suspensions & Fines

Achraf Hakimi: 2-match CAF suspension, with one match suspension held for a future 12-month period.
Ismaël Saibari: 3-match suspension and a USD 100,000 fine for unsporting behaviour.

Federation Fines

Morocco’s federation was fined:

USD 200,000 for inappropriate behaviour by stadium ball boys;
USD 100,000 for improper conduct by technical staff and players who interfered with VAR officials;
USD 15,000 for supporters using laser pointers.

Total fines: USD 315,000 for FRMF.

Morocco’s Protest Rejected

CAF also addressed a formal complaint by the Moroccan federation challenging Senegal’s conduct during the match. After review, the Disciplinary Board rejected Morocco’s protest, confirming that Senegal’s AFCON 2025 title stands and that the match result would not be overturned.

Why These Sanctions Matter

This disciplinary action reinforces CAF’s commitment to:

✨ Fair play and integrity
🧑‍⚖️ Respect for match officials
📋 Professional behaviour by teams, staff and supporters

The decisions send a strong message ahead of future CAF competitions and underline that even the biggest matches must uphold the sport’s core principles.