Gambiaj.com – (CAIRO, Egypt) – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has handed down disciplinary sanctions against Senegal and Morocco following incidents surrounding the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 final, with the penalties emerging as notably less severe than many international media outlets had anticipated.
In the days after the final, sections of the global press predicted sweeping suspensions, potential tournament bans, and far-reaching punitive measures amid heightened scrutiny of player conduct, technical staff behavior, and crowd control.
However, CAF’s Disciplinary Jury opted for targeted individual suspensions and financial penalties, signaling a calibrated approach rather than the draconian sanctions widely forecast.
For Senegal, the harshest individual sanction fell on national team head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw, who was suspended for five CAF matches and fined USD 100,000 for unsporting behavior, breaches of fair-play and integrity principles, and conduct deemed damaging to the image of football.
Two key players, Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr, each received two-match suspensions for unsporting conduct toward match officials.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) was also fined a cumulative USD 615,000. This included USD 300,000 for inappropriate behavior by supporters, another USD 300,000 for unsporting conduct by players and technical staff, and USD 15,000 following disciplinary infringements that saw five players booked during the match.
Despite the financial weight of the sanctions, CAF stopped short of imposing team suspensions or competitive exclusions, outcomes that had been speculated in parts of the international media.
Morocco Also Avoids Worst-Case Scenario
Morocco’s penalties followed a similar pattern of restraint. Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi was suspended for two CAF matches, with one match suspended for a probationary period of one year, while Ismaël Saibari received a three-match suspension and a USD 100,000 fine for unsporting behavior.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) was fined USD 315,000 for a range of infractions, including inappropriate conduct by ball boys, the invasion of the VAR review area by players and officials, and the use of laser pointers by supporters.
Crucially, CAF’s Disciplinary Jury dismissed a formal complaint lodged by the FRMF against the FSF, which had alleged violations of CAF regulations during the final. The rejection of the claim further reinforced the sense that CAF was intent on closing the matter through proportionate disciplinary channels rather than escalating the dispute.
The outcome aligns with observations from CAF’s earlier disciplinary proceedings, where the governing body emphasized accountability while avoiding sanctions that could destabilize national teams or undermine the competition’s integrity.
By focusing on individual responsibility and financial deterrence, CAF appears to have struck a balance between upholding discipline and preserving sporting continuity.
In contrast to the dire predictions that dominated international headlines, the final decisions suggest a conscious effort by CAF to be firm but fair, punishing misconduct without imposing the kind of sweeping penalties that many feared would overshadow African football’s flagship tournament.
