The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Board has imposed a series of sanctions on the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), as well as several players and officials, following incidents that occurred during and after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.
In a statement published on its website on Wednesday night, CAF said the sanctions were issued for violations of the CAF Disciplinary Code, including breaches of the principles of fair play, loyalty, and integrity during the final match.
As part of the sanctions against Senegal, CAF suspended the head coach of the Senegalese national team, Pape Bouna Thiaw, for five official CAF matches for “unsporting conduct” and for “bringing the game into disrepute.” He was also fined 100,000 dollars.
CAF further fined the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football 300,000 dollars for the unsporting conduct of its players and technical staff, noting that their actions violated disciplinary principles and brought the game into disrepute. An additional fine of 15,000 dollars was imposed on the FSF following cautions received by five Senegalese players during the match.
With regard to Morocco, CAF suspended national team defender Achraf Hakimi for two official CAF matches, with one of the suspensions suspended for one year from the date of the decision, for unsporting behaviour. Midfielder Ismaël Saibari was handed a three-match suspension and fined 100,000 dollars for unsporting conduct.
The Moroccan Football Federation was also fined 200,000 dollars for the inappropriate behaviour of stadium ball boys during the final. CAF further imposed a fine of 100,000 dollars on the FRMF for the improper conduct of its players and technical staff, who invaded the VAR review area and obstructed the referee during the match. An additional fine of 15,000 dollars was issued for the use of lasers by Moroccan supporters.
The AFCON final, held at the Stade Mohammed V in Rabat on January 18, 2026, descended into chaos in the closing moments of regulation time. With the score level at 0-0, a Senegal goal was disallowed for offside, followed by a VAR review that awarded a penalty to host nation Morocco in the eighth minute of added time.
In protest, Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw led his players off the pitch, prompting tense scenes that required security intervention. After a delay, the Senegalese team returned to the field. Morocco’s penalty was subsequently saved by goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, forcing the match into extra time.
Senegal eventually secured victory when midfielder Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal in the fourth minute of the first half of extra time, clinching the AFCON title.
Both CAF and FIFA President Gianni Infantino had condemned the conduct surrounding the final.
Meanwhile, CAF also ruled on a protest filed by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football over alleged violations of Articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations by the Senegalese Football Federation. According to CAF, the Disciplinary Board rejected the protest, finding no merit in the claims.
