CAF bans Senegal coach, players in AFCON final disciplinary crackdown
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has sanctioned both Senegal and Morocco following a series of incidents during the AFCON 2025 final, while officially confirming Senegal as champions of the tournament.
In a statement on the disciplinary decisions released on Thursday, January 29, 2026, Senegal was fined a $615,000. The fine comprises $300,000 for supporters’ misconduct, $300,000 for misconduct by players and officials, and $15,000 for five yellow cards accumulated during the final.
Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw was handed a five-match suspension from official CAF competitions and fined $100,000 for conduct deemed to have brought the game into disrepute.
Additionally, Senegal players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were each suspended for two official CAF matches for unsporting behaviour towards the referee.
The host nation, Morocco, was also sanctioned, receiving total fines amounting to $415,000. This includes $200,000 for misconduct by stadium ball boys, $100,000 for misbehaviour by players and officials, and $15,000 for fans’ use of laser pointers during the final.
Moroccan midfielder Ismail Saibari was fined $100,000 and suspended for three CAF matches, while captain Achraf Hakimi received a two-match ban.
On the issue of the match outcome, CAF rejected Morocco’s appeal, which sought to have Senegal stripped of the title because the Senegalese team abandoned the match after walking off the pitch. CAF ruled that the appeal lacked merit.
As a result, Senegal has officially been declared the winner of AFCON 2025, bringing the tournament to a close amid firm disciplinary action by the continental football governing body.
The AFCON final took a chaotic turn in the dying moments of normal time when Morocco were awarded a late penalty following a tussle in the box involving Real Madrid midfielder Brahim Díaz.
Referee Jean-Jacques Ndala, after a prolonged VAR review, pointed to the spot — a decision that sparked furious reactions from Senegal’s players and technical team.
Head coach for Senegal, Pape Thiaw, incensed by the call, ordered his players off the pitch in protest.
It took the Senegal captain, Sadio Mané, to appeal to his teammates as they headed toward the tunnel, with some hesitating before eventually following him off. Mané later sprinted down the tunnel as tensions continued to rise.
