Senegal Fans during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON final match between Senegal and Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco on 18 January 2026 ©Weam Mostafa/BackpagePix
Friday Jan 30, 2026. 09:00
The Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Disciplinary Committee has imposed sanctions and fines on both Senegal and Morocco in response to the controversies surrounding the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) earlier this month.
The match, held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on January 18, ended 1-0 in favour of Senegal after extra time – handing the Teranga Lions their second AFCON title – but was marred by allegations of unsporting behaviour, particularly in reference to the West African team’s threat to abandon the match when Morocco were awarded a debatable penalty near the end of regulation time.
Ultimately the match continued, only for Morocco’s Brahim Diaz to miss the penalty in bizarre fashion, before Senegal emerged triumphant in extra time on the back of Pape Gueye’s 94th minute goal.
The Disciplinary Committee took aim at the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), and several individuals from both teams.
Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw received the heaviest individual sanction, being suspended for five official CAF matches for unsporting conduct and for bringing the game into disrepute. He was also fined $100,000.
Two Senegalese players were also punished for their conduct towards match officials, with Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr each suspended for two official CAF matches due to unsporting behaviour towards the referee.
The FSF was also fined a total of $615,000. This includes a $300,000 fine for the improper conduct of Senegalese supporters, which CAF ruled brought the game into disrepute, and a further $300,000 fine for the unsporting conduct of players and technical staff.
An additional $15,000 fine was imposed due to five Senegal players receiving cautions during the final.
Morocco were also sanctioned following several incidents during the match. The Atlas Lions captain Achraf Hakimi was suspended for two official CAF competitions matches, with one of those matches suspended for a period of one year, for unsporting behaviour.
Ismaël Saibari received a three-match suspension and was fined $100,000. These sanctions relate to the towel incidents that marred matches involving Morocco.
The FRMF was fined $315,000 in total: this included a $200,000 fine for the inappropriate behaviour of stadium ball boys during the final, and a $100,000 fine for the conduct of Moroccan players and technical staff who invaded the VAR review area and obstructed the referee’s work, in violation of Articles 82 and 83 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
A further $15,000 fine was imposed for the use of lasers by Moroccan supporters.
CAF also dismissed a protest lodged by the FRMF concerning alleged violations by the FSF of Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations during the final, with the DC rejecting the complaint in its entirety.