After problems during the 2025 African Cup of Nations final, the Confederation of African Football Disciplinary Board has punished the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football, the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football, and a number of players and officials.
CAF announced on its website Wednesday night that the punishments were given for breaking the CAF Disciplinary Code, which includes not following the rules of fair play, loyalty, and honesty during and after the final match.
CAF suspended Senegal’s national team head coach, Pape Bouna Thiaw, for five official CAF matches for “unsporting conduct” and “bringing the game into disrepute.” This was part of the rulings against Senegal.
The announcement said, “Mr. Pape Bouna Thiaw was also fined USD 100,000.”
CAF has decided to “suspend Senegalese national team player Mr. Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye for two (2) official CAF matches” because he was rude to the referee.
“To suspend Mr. Ismaila Sarr, a player on the Senegalese national team, for two (2) official CAF matches for being rude to the referee.”
“To fine the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) USD 300,000 for the bad behavior of its fans, which made the game seem bad and broke the CAF Disciplinary Code’s rules of fair play and honesty.
“To sanction the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) $300,000 for the players and technical staff acting in an unsporting way that went against the CAF Disciplinary Code’s rules of fair play, loyalty, and honesty. Their players and technical staff also acted in an unsporting way, which hurt the game’s reputation.
“To fine the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) $15,000 for the bad behavior of its national team, because five (5) of its players had been warned.”
CAF punished Morocco’s national team defender, Achraf Hakimi, for two official CAF matches because he acted in an unsporting way. One of the matches was put on hold for a year from the date of the decision.
Ismaël Saibari, a midfielder, was banned from three official CAF matches and fined $100,000 for bad behavior.
The FRMF had to pay $200,000 because the ball boys at the stadium acted inappropriately during the final.
CAF also fined the Moroccan federation $100,000 for the bad behavior of its players and technical staff, who went into the VAR review area and got in the way of the referee’s work.
Moroccan fans used lasers throughout the game, which led to an extra $15,000 fine.
The final, which took place on January 18, 2026, at the Stade Mohammed V in Rabat, fell apart in the last few minutes of regular time.
Senegal had a goal disallowed for being offside when the score was still 0-0. Then, in the eighth minute of added time, a VAR review gave Morocco a penalty.
Senegal’s head coach, Pape Thiaw, was not happy, so he led his players off the field in protest, which caused a lot of chaos and security had to step in.
The Senegalese team was finally convinced to come back after a delay. Goalkeeper Édouard Mendy stopped Morocco’s penalty, which sent the game into extra time.
In the fourth minute of the first half of extra time, midfielder Pape Gueye scored the goal that won Senegal the AFCON title.
At the time, both CAF and FIFA president Gianni Infantino spoke out against the behavior.
At the same time, CAF also ruled on a protest by the FRMF over the FSF’s alleged infringement of Articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations rules.
The statement went on to say, “The CAF Disciplinary Board rejected the protest filed by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football against the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football for allegedly breaking Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations, which were about the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Final.”
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