Morocco’s football association announced it would appeal the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) disciplinary actions and fines after the Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal last month turned into a mess.
AFP says that the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) was fined $315,000 last month and two of its players were banned from playing.
The FRMF stated in a statement that it will appeal “in order to preserve all rights guaranteed by the regulations,” citing “non-conformity of these sanctions with the extent and seriousness of the incidents that occurred.”
The AFCON final on January 18 had a lot of twists and turns. For example, an Ismaila Sarr goal was disallowed late in regular time because Achraf Hakimi, the 2025 African Player of the Year, was fouled.
When striker Brahim Diaz was fouled, Morocco was given a penalty, which made Senegalese fans quite angry.
Edouard Mendy saved Diaz’s feeble attempt on the long-delayed penalty, which Morocco missed. The game went into extra time, and Pape Gueye scored to secure Senegal their second AFCON title.
Some Senegal fans tossed things and others briefly stormed the field as the game was stopped because of the disputed decision. Police and security staff had to step in.
Morocco has to pay $200,000 because the “inappropriate behavior of the stadium ball boys.”
Players and technical personnel who broke the rules by going into the VAR review area and getting in the way of the Congolese referee’s work were also fined $100,000.
There was also a $15,000 fine for Moroccan fans who tried to distract Senegalese players with lasers.
And for “bad sportsmanship,” Ismael Saibari, a forward for Morocco, was banned from three games and fined $100,000. Achraf Hakimi, the team’s captain and defender, was banned from two games.
The Senegal Football Federation (FSF) was fined $615,000 for a number of offenses during the final, and its head coach Pape Thiaw was banned for five games. They also indicated they will challenge the penalties.
Two Senegalese players, Iliman Ndiaye and Sarr, were banned for two games for “unsporting behavior toward the referee.”
Senegal’s punishments included “the unsporting behavior of their players and technical staff that went against the CAF’s rules of fair play, loyalty, and integrity.”
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