By: Kwame Bediako
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has sanctioned Senegal and Morocco following the chaotic incidents in the AFCON 2025 final.
In a strongly worded decision, CAF imposed hefty fines totaling over $1 million on both nations, alongside suspensions for key players and officials, underscoring zero tolerance for unsportsmanlike behavior.
The penalties stem from supporter misconduct, player altercations, and other disruptions that marred the showpiece event. Senegal, the tournament’s victors, faces the heaviest financial hit with a $615,000 fine.
This breaks down to $300,000 for fan misbehaviour, another $300,000 for player and staff misconduct, and $15,000 linked to five yellow cards in the final.
Adding more pain to the injury, Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw earns a five-match CAF suspension plus a $100,000 personal fine for bringing the game into disrepute.
Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr of the Senegalese national each sit out two official CAF matches for unsporting conduct toward the referee.
Morocco, who pushed Senegal to the brink, wasn’t spared either, copping a $415,000 fine package.
The bulk targets stadium ball boys’ misbehavior ($200,000), player and staff issues ($100,000), and fan use of lasers ($15,000).
Midfielder Ismail Saibari draws a $100,000 fine and three-match ban, while captain Achraf Hakimi will miss two CAF outings.
These measures aim to deter future escalations on Africa’s biggest football stage.
In a pivotal ruling, CAF dismissed Morocco’s appeal to strip Senegal of the title.
The North Africans argued that Senegal’s mid-match walk-off amounted to abandoning the game, but CAF upheld the Teranga Lions’ victory.
This confirms Senegal as official AFCON 2025 champions, securing their second continental crown amid the controversy.
The sanctions signal CAF’s resolve to protect the integrity of African football as it grows globally. With fines rivaling national budgets for some clubs and bans sidelining stars for months, expect ripple effects in upcoming qualifiers and club competitions.
