CAF has come down hard on both Senegal and Morocco after a turbulent TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 final, issuing heavy suspensions and fines over conduct it said crossed disciplinary lines and damaged the image of the competition.
Following a review by its Disciplinary Board, the Confederation of African Football announced that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football and the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football, along with several players and officials from both camps, were found to have breached multiple sections of the CAF Disciplinary Code. The violations centred on fair play, integrity and behaviour deemed to have brought the game into disrepute.
Senegal emerged as the most heavily sanctioned side. Head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw was handed a five-match suspension from CAF competitions and fined USD 100,000 after CAF ruled that his conduct during the final amounted to unsporting behaviour that harmed the reputation of the sport. On the field, Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were each suspended for two matches after being cited for inappropriate conduct towards the referee during the tense encounter.
The penalties extended beyond individuals to the Senegalese federation itself. CAF fined the FSF USD 300,000 for the misconduct of its supporters and imposed an additional USD 300,000 fine over the behaviour of the team’s players and technical staff. A further USD 15,000 was added after five Senegal players were booked during the match.
Morocco also faced disciplinary action over a series of incidents linked to players, officials and match day operations. Defender Achraf Hakimi received a two-match suspension, with one of those matches suspended for a year, while midfielder Ismaël Saibari was banned for three matches and fined USD 100,000 for unsporting behaviour.
CAF also sanctioned the FRMF financially. The Moroccan federation was fined USD 200,000 over the conduct of stadium ball boys and another USD 100,000 after players and technical staff were found to have entered the VAR review area and interfered with the referee’s work. Supporter misconduct was also cited, with a USD 15,000 fine imposed following reports of laser devices being used in the stands.
In addition to the sanctions, CAF ruled on a formal protest filed by the FRMF against Senegal, which alleged breaches of Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations. The Disciplinary Board dismissed the protest in full, concluding that the claims lacked merit.
The ruling effectively ends Morocco’s bid to overturn the result. CAF rejected the appeal that sought to have Senegal stripped of the title for allegedly abandoning the match after walking off the pitch, confirming Senegal as the official AFCON 2025 champions.
The CAF Disciplinary Board took the following decisions:
(1). On the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), the CAF Disciplinary Board decided :
- To suspend Mr Pape Bouna Thiaw, the Head Coach of the Senegalese National Team, for five (5) official CAF matches for his unsporting conduct in violation of the CAF Disciplinary Code principles of fair play and integrity and for bringing the game into disrepute.
- Mr Pape Bouna Thiaw was also fined USD 100,000.
- To suspend the Senegalese National Team player, Mr Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye for two (2) official CAF matches, for his unsporting behaviour towards the referee.
- To suspend Senegalese National Team player, Mr Ismaila Sarr for two (2) official CAF matches for his unsporting behaviour towards the referee.
- To fine the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), USD 300,000 for the improper conduct of its supporters, which brought the game into disrepute in violation of the CAF Disciplinary Code principles of fair play and integrity.
- To fine the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), USD 300,000 for the unsporting conduct of their players and technical staff in violation of the CAF Disciplinary Code principles of fair play, loyalty and integrity. The unsporting conduct of their players and the technical staff also brought the game into disrepute.
- To fine the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), USD 15,000 for the misconduct of its National Team, due to five (5) of its players having received cautions.
(2). On the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), the CAF Disciplinary Board decided :
- To suspend the Moroccan National Team player, Mr Achraf Hakimi for two (2) official CAF matches, with one (1) these matches being suspended for one (1) year from the date of this decision, for his unsporting behaviour.
- To suspend the Moroccan National Team player, Mr Ismaël Saibari for three (3) official CAF matches for his unsporting behaviour.
- Mr Ismaël Saibari was also fined USD 100,000.
- To fine the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) USD 200,000, for the inappropriate behaviour of the stadium’s ball boys during the aforementioned match.
- To fine the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) USD 100,000 for the improper conduct of their National Team players and technical staff, who invaded the VAR review area and obstructed the referee’s work, in violation of the principles of fair play and integrity, as stated in Articles 82 and 83 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
- To fine the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) USD 15,000 for the use of lasers by its supporters during the aforementioned match.
(3). On the protest that was lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) regarding alleged violations by the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) violations of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations
The CAF Disciplinary Board rejected the protest lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) regarding alleged violations by the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations, relating to the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Final.
