Record Sanctions for Senegal and Morocco Following AFCON 2025 Final
At the dawn of January 29, 2026, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) handed down some of the most severe sanctions in its history. These penalties targeted the federations, star players and coaching staff of Senegal and Morocco following the AFCON 2025 final marred by VAR controversies, a temporary team walk-off, and sideline chaos.
The Fallout for Senegal: Victory with a Heavy Price
While the Teranga Lions officially secured their status as African champions with a 1–0 extra-time victory, their conduct during a protest led to the tournament’s most severe individual punishment. Head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw was handed a five-match suspension from all official CAF competitions and a $100,000 fine. The Disciplinary Board found him guilty of bringing the game into disrepute after he reportedly instructed his players to leave the pitch in protest of a late VAR-awarded penalty for Morocco. Although the team eventually returned to finish the game, CAF ruled that the temporary abandonment violated the core principles of fair play and integrity.
The playing squad also took a hit, with Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr both receiving two-match suspensions for their aggressive behavior towards the match officials during the heat of the protest. Collectively, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) faces a massive financial burden of $615,000. This total is comprised of $300,000 for supporter misconduct, another $300,000 for the unsporting actions of the players and technical staff, and a $15,000 penalty for the team accumulating five yellow cards during the final.
Morocco’s Sanctions: Host Nation Under Scrutiny
Despite playing at home, Morocco did not escape the hammer of the Disciplinary Board. The host nation was penalized for what CAF described as “inappropriate behavior” by stadium staff and the encroachment of team members into restricted areas. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) was fined $200,000 specifically because of the conduct of the stadium ball boys, who were accused of disrupting the flow of the game to favor the home side. Additionally, the federation was fined $100,000 for an incident where players and technical staff invaded the VAR review area to pressure the referee, alongside a $15,000 fine for the use of laser pointers by fans in the stands.
Individual Moroccan players also face significant time away from the national team. Ismaël Saibari received a three-match suspension and a $100,000 fine for unsporting behavior. Captain Achraf Hakimi was also sanctioned with a two-match ban; however, one of those matches is suspended for a one-year probationary period, meaning he will effectively be under a “yellow card” status with the disciplinary committee for the next twelve months.
The Status of the Trophy
In the wake of the final, Morocco filed a formal appeal to have Senegal disqualified, citing the walk-off as a violation of tournament regulations. However, the CAF Disciplinary Board ultimately rejected this protest, ruling that because the Senegalese team returned to the field and completed the match, the 1–0 result was valid. Consequently, Senegal remains the official winners of AFCON 2025, though both nations will now head into their next continental qualifiers significantly weakened by these bans.
