In the aftermath of one of the most dramatic and contentious finals in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Board has issued a series of stiff penalties to both Senegal and the hosts, Morocco. The decisions, announced on January 28, 2026, address unsporting incidents, player confrontations, and crowd issues that marred the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Final, in which Senegal emerged victorious 1-0 after extra time thanks to Pape Gueye’s decisive strike.
The match in Rabat was overshadowed by controversy late in regulation time. With the score locked at 0-0, a VAR-reviewed penalty was awarded to Morocco following a challenge on Brahim Díaz. Senegal’s players, incensed by the call, briefly walked off the pitch in protest before returning to complete the game. Tensions boiled over into confrontations involving players and staff, and even into invasions near the VAR area, while lasers from the crowd and improper conduct by ball boys added to the disorder.
The CAF Disciplinary Board, after reviewing evidence, imposed the following sanctions on the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF):
Head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw received a five-match suspension from official CAF competitions and a personal fine of USD 100,000 for unsporting conduct that violated fair play principles and brought the game into disrepute.
Players Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were each banned for two CAF matches due to unsporting behavior toward the referee.
The FSF was fined USD 300,000 for improper conduct by supporters that damaged the game’s reputation. An additional USD 300,000 fine was levied for unsporting conduct by players and technical staff, in breach of loyalty and integrity standards. A USD 15,000 penalty came for team misconduct after five players accumulated cautions.
These measures total USD 615,000 in fines for Senegal’s federation, reflecting the scale of the disruptions attributed to the Teranga Lions’ side.
On the Moroccan side, the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) faced penalties as well:
Star defender Achraf Hakimi was suspended for two CAF matches, though one is suspended for one year (effectively a one-match ban with probation). Player Ismaël Saibari received a three-match ban and a USD 100,000 fine for unsporting behavior.
The FRMF was fined USD 200,000 for inappropriate actions by stadium ball boys during the match.
A USD 100,000 penalty was issued to players and staff for invading the VAR review area and obstructing the referee’s duties, in violation of fair play rules under Articles 82 and 83 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
Supporters’ use of lasers drew a USD 15,000 fine.
Notably, the Board rejected Morocco’s protest alleging violations by Senegal under Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON Regulations. The result stands, confirming Senegal as champions for the second time in their history (following 2021), with no title reversal.
The sanctions underscore CAF’s commitment to upholding discipline amid high-stakes finals. While Senegal celebrates their hard-fought triumph, both federations and players will feel the sting of suspensions and fines as African football moves forward. The incidents serve as a reminder of the fine line between passion and unacceptable behavior on the continent’s biggest stage.
