CAF drops the hammer after AFCON final chaos

By Mishael Emmanuel 

 

 

The fallout from the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 final has been swift and severe, with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) slamming Senegal and Morocco with heavy suspensions and eye-watering fines over disciplinary breaches that marred the showpiece match.

Senegal bore the brunt of CAF’s wrath. Head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw was hit with a five-match suspension and a $100,000 fine after CAF ruled his conduct brought the game into disrepute. 

On the pitch, Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were each handed two-match bans for unsporting behaviour towards the referee, compounding a bruising post-final reckoning for the Teranga Lions.

The punishment didn’t stop there. CAF fined the Senegalese Football Federation a staggering $615,000, citing supporter misconduct, repeated unsporting behaviour by players and officials, and a flood of yellow cards during the final that tipped the match into disciplinary chaos.

Hosts Morocco were not spared. Achraf Hakimi received a two-match suspension, with one game suspended for a year, while Ismaël Saibari was banned for three matches and fined $100,000. 

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation was also docked $200,000 over the conduct of ball boys, plus another $100,000 after players and officials were found to have invaded the VAR area and obstructed the referee.

CAF added a further $15,000 fine for the use of lasers by home supporters inside the stadium.

CAF also shut the door on Morocco’s protest against Senegal, rejecting claims of regulatory violations after review. 

In a firm closing note, the governing body said the sanctions sent a clear message: discipline, respect for officials and the integrity of the game are non-negotiable, even on Africa’s biggest football stage.