The dust has barely settled on the dramatic Afcon 2025 final in Morocco, yet the disciplinary fallout has quickly become its own headline. Caf has now confirmed a long list of sanctions against both Senegal and Morocco after tempers, tension, and rule breaches overshadowed the continent’s biggest football stage.
A final that spilled beyond the 90 minutes
Anyone who followed the tournament knows that Afcon finals come with heightened emotion, but this one crossed lines both federations are now paying for. Caf’s Disciplinary Board said that multiple acts from players, technical staff, supporters and even stadium personnel violated the organisation’s rules on fair play, integrity, and sporting conduct.
Senegal, who have built a reputation in recent years as one of Africa’s most disciplined football nations, find themselves hit with some of the tournament’s harshest penalties to date.
Senegal face bans and heavy financial penalties
Senegal head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw has been handed a five-match suspension for behavior that Caf said brought the game into disrepute. He also received a USD 100 000 fine.
Two key players were added to the list: Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr, both suspended for two Caf matches for actions directed at match officials.
The Fédération Sénégalaise de Football now carries the biggest financial burden. Caf fined the federation USD 300 000 for supporter misconduct that was deemed damaging to the image of African football. A further USD 300 000 was issued for unsporting behavior involving players and technical staff, on top of a USD 15 000 fine triggered by the number of yellow cards received during the match.
Morocco’s penalties extend beyond the pitch
Morocco’s football federation, the FRMF, also faces a substantial list of sanctions. Achraf Hakimi received a two-match suspension, with one match suspended for a year depending on future conduct. Ismaël Saibari’s case was more severe, resulting in a three-match ban and a USD 100 000 fine.
The FRMF itself was fined USD 200 000 for misconduct by stadium ball boys, an unusual but serious breach given their role in match operations. Another USD 100 000 fine was imposed after Moroccan players and staff entered the VAR area and interfered with the referee’s review process. A USD 15 000 fine followed for the use of laser pointers by supporters inside the stadium.
Morocco’s protest dismissed
Morocco had lodged an official complaint claiming Senegal breached Articles 82 and 84 of the Afcon regulations. After reviewing the protest, Caf dismissed it, saying no violations were proven.
What this means for African football
Disciplinary action after major finals isn’t new in African football, but the scale of these sanctions signals Caf’s growing insistence on protecting the integrity of its competitions. With Afcon now drawing bigger global attention each year, there is clear pressure on teams and federations to uphold standards on and off the field.
The message from Caf is unmistakable: passion cannot be an excuse for misconduct, and the continent’s showpiece tournament deserves better.
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Source: iDiski Times
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