The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has issued its long-awaited disciplinary decisions following the chaotic scenes that marked the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 (AFCON) final.
However, the sanctions handed to Senegal are already stirring controversy.
Despite Senegal’s withdrawal from the pitch during a crucial phase of the match, confrontations with match officials, and serious crowd disturbances, the penalties imposed on the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) were widely viewed as surprisingly light.
CAF suspended Senegal head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw for five CAF official matches and fined him $100,000 for conduct described as damaging to the integrity of the game.
Two players, Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr, each received two-match bans for their behaviour toward the referee. Senegal’s federation was fined a total of $ 615,000 for supporter misconduct, unsporting conduct by players and staff, and accumulated cautions.
But for many observers, these measures fall short of reflecting the magnitude of a national team abandoning the pitch during an AFCON final — a scene unprecedented in recent tournament history.
In contrast, CAF also sanctioned Morocco’s Football Federation (FRMF), accusing some team members of being involved in heated exchanges with match officials.
Moroccan players Achraf Hakimi and Ismaël Saibari received a two-match ban (with one match suspended) and a three-match ban respectively, with Saibari also fined $100,000. The FRMF was further fined for ball-boy misconduct, VAR-area obstruction by players and staff, and laser use by supporters — bringing Morocco’s total financial penalties to $ 315,000.
Surprisingly, the CAF Disciplinary Board also rejected the protest lodged by the FRMF regarding violations by the FSF of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations.
According to CAF’s own regulations, Articles 82 and 84 offer an unequivocal framework for addressing situations exactly like those witnessed during the chaotic AFCON 2025 final.
Article 82 states that any team that withdraws, refuses to play, or leaves the pitch before the end of the match without the referee’s authorization must be considered the loser and eliminated from the competition.
Article 84 reinforces this principle, specifying that a team violating these provisions shall be eliminated for good, with the match awarded 3–0 to the opponent unless a more favorable score was already recorded.
These regulations mirror precisely what unfolded during the final, where Senegal temporarily left the pitch amid tense and chaotic scenes.
Yet despite this clear framework, CAF rejected Morocco’s appeal submitted under Articles 82 and 84, without offering any detailed reasoning or explanation for its decision.
This absence of justification has fueled further questions, especially among Moroccan fans and analysts who argue that the regulations themselves perfectly outline the consequences for such actions.
It remains to be seen whether Morocco will appeal the CAF decisions.
