The Confederation of African Football’s disciplinary panel has delivered its verdict following the heated fallout from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, held in Morocco. In a ruling made public on Tuesday, CAF handed down a series of sanctions targeting the Moroccan and Senegalese football federations, along with several players and coaching staff, all found guilty of violating CAF’s disciplinary code.
Senegal faces the harshest penalties. Head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw has been handed a five-match ban from official CAF competitions, with the governing body accusing him of undermining fair play and damaging the reputation of African football. Alongside the suspension, Thiaw has been fined $100,000. Two Senegalese players, Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr, have each received two-match bans for showing what CAF deemed disrespectful behavior toward the match referee.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) is also facing a major financial hit. A $300,000 fine has been imposed due to the conduct of its fans, which CAF described as harmful to the tournament’s image. Another $300,000 fine was levied against the team and coaching staff for actions that ran counter to the values of integrity and sportsmanship that CAF aims to uphold. An additional $15,000 penalty was added for repeated infractions during the game, with five players having received yellow cards.
On the Moroccan side, sanctions were focused on specific individuals. Achraf Hakimi has been suspended for two matches, with one of those suspended for a year, meaning it will only be enforced if he reoffends. Ismaël Saibari has been hit with a three-match ban and a $100,000 fine for his conduct during the final.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has not escaped unscathed either. CAF found it responsible for the inappropriate behavior of stadium ball boys, leading to a $200,000 fine. A separate $100,000 penalty was issued for an incident where players and staff entered the VAR zone during a video review—an area strictly off-limits during such procedures. The use of laser pointers by some Moroccan fans also drew disciplinary action, adding a further $15,000 fine to the federation’s tab.
CAF also dismissed a formal complaint lodged by the FRMF, which had accused the Senegalese federation of breaching specific CAN regulations. The disciplinary committee ruled that the evidence provided failed to support the claims, deeming the arguments unconvincing and insufficiently substantiated.
