Morocco pushes back after a turbulent AFCON finale
The fallout from the dramatic Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal has continued well into February, as Morocco’s football leadership now plans to challenge the heavy sanctions imposed by the continent’s governing body.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation confirmed it will formally appeal the Confederation of African Football’s CAF rulings, arguing that the penalties handed down simply do not match the seriousness or scale of the incidents that unfolded during the tense final in Abidjan.
What sparked the sanctions
The AFCON final on January 18 was already shaping up to be a classic before tensions boiled over. A late goal by Ismaila Sarr was ruled out for a foul on Achraf Hakimi, who had just been crowned the 2025 African Player of the Year. Minutes later, Morocco were awarded a penalty after Brahim Diaz went down in the box, a decision that sparked fierce protests from Senegal’s bench.
Diaz’s penalty was eventually taken after long delays but was comfortably saved by Edouard Mendy, setting the stage for extra time where Pape Gueye delivered the decisive goal that secured Senegal their second continental title.
Amid the confusion, some Senegal fans hurled objects onto the field and a handful briefly entered the pitch before security regained control.
Why Morocco is appealing
Morocco was slapped with fines totalling 315 000 US dollars, including:
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200 000 dollars for alleged misconduct by stadium ball boys
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100 000 dollars for players and technical staff obstructing the referee during the VAR review
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15 000 dollars for the use of lasers by supporters
On top of that, midfielder Ismael Saibari received a three-match ban and a 100 000 dollar fine, while captain Hakimi was suspended for two matches.
The Moroccan FA argues that the sanctions are not aligned with what actually happened, hinting that CAF may have overreached in its disciplinary assessment.
Senegal is appealing too
Morocco is not alone. The Senegal Football Federation has also signalled its intention to appeal after being hit with a far larger 615 000 dollar penalty. Head coach Pape Thiaw has been slapped with a five-match ban, while Iliman Ndiaye and Sarr both received two-match suspensions.
CAF cited “unsporting behaviour” and violations of its fair play, loyalty and integrity principles.
Local context
Across South Africa, where AFCON had gripped fans for weeks, reactions have been mixed. Supporters who watched the fiery final from Joburg shisa nyamas and Cape Town bars said they were stunned by how quickly the match spiralled from a football spectacle into a disciplinary storm. Others feel CAF needed to set a firm example to curb rising tensions around officiating at major tournaments.
A decision that could shape future tournaments
The appeals from both Morocco and Senegal signal that the final chapter of the 2026 tournament has not yet been written. With two of Africa’s biggest football nations challenging CAF’s rulings, the outcome may influence how the organisation handles officiating disputes and supporter behaviour going forward.
If the appeals are successful, it could reshape the suspensions facing key players and set a precedent for future AFCON finals, where emotions will always run high but where the stakes around discipline are rising sharply.
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Source: SuperSport
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