CAF on Thursday announced a string of suspensions and fines against players, coaches and federations after an investigation into the chaotic scenes that marred the AFCON 2025 final in Morocco, and dismissed a Moroccan challenge to the result.
The Confederation of African Football’s Disciplinary Board said it had penalized both Senegal and Morocco following a stoppage-time penalty award that provoked protests and a walk-off by the Senegalese team. Head coach Pape Thiaw was hit with a five-match suspension from all CAF competitions and fined $100,000 for what the board described as “unsporting conduct.”
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CAF said several Senegalese players and the Senegalese Football Federation were also sanctioned; the federation will face penalties tied to the conduct of its delegation. On the Moroccan side, captain Achraf Hakimi and midfielder Ismaël Saibari were suspended and fined for unsporting behavior. The Moroccan Royal Football Federation (FRMF) was fined for the “inappropriate conduct” of stadium ball boys during the match.
The board added that the disciplinary measures follow a formal probe into the final, during which a late penalty was awarded to Morocco. That decision prompted protests from the Senegal camp and led Thiaw to instruct his players to leave the field before the game’s conclusion. CAF clarified that while disciplinary proceedings were necessary, they do not alter the match outcome — Senegal’s victory stands.
- Pape Thiaw — five-match suspension from CAF competitions; $100,000 fine.
- Senegalese players and federation — multiple sanctions (details released by CAF).
- Achraf Hakimi and Ismaël Saibari — suspensions and fines for unsporting behavior.
- FRMF — fine for inappropriate conduct of stadium ball boys.
- Morocco’s complaint against the match result — dismissed; Senegal’s win upheld.
The disciplinary panel’s action is among the most significant taken by CAF in recent tournaments and signals an attempt to reassert control after an unusually volatile final. CAF’s reference to “unsporting conduct” covers a range of behaviors under its code of conduct, from refusal to respect match officials to actions that bring the game into disrepute.
For Senegal, the suspension of Thiaw removes the coach from the touchline for the next five CAF matches, a sanction that could affect the team’s preparation and in-competition leadership in forthcoming continental fixtures. Individual suspensions for players may also shape squad selection in the near term.
For Morocco, sanctions against senior players and a fine against the federation over ball-boy behavior put a spotlight on match-day operations and stadium management. CAF’s explicit reprimand of the FRMF for ball boys suggests the governing body found those actions influential enough to warrant institutional penalty.
CAF did not publish every detail of the individual sanctions in its initial release, and both federations retain the right to appeal the decisions through CAF’s established channels. Appeals are a routine part of disciplinary processes in international football, and outcomes can alter the scope or duration of penalties.
Beyond immediate sporting consequences, the episode renews broader questions about refereeing, crowd and venue management, and how tournament organizers prevent flashpoints in high-stakes matches. African football’s governing body has repeatedly said that preserving the integrity of competition requires both firm disciplinary standards and clear, consistent officiating.
As the continent moves on from AFCON 2025, CAF’s sanctions send a message that conduct on and around the pitch will be policed, and that sanctions can reach players, coaches and their federations alike. For now, however, the confetti and controversy of the final have yielded a conclusive competitive outcome: Senegal remains the champion, and the disciplinary process has been closed with fines and suspensions meant to deter future incidents.
By Newsroom
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
