CAF Fines Senegal, Morocco After AFCON 2025 Final Chaos
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has imposed heavy fines on Senegal and Morocco after chaotic scenes disrupted the AFCON 2025 final in Rabat.
Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 after extra time to win the title, but controversy overshadowed the match during the final minutes of normal play.
What Happened
Tensions escalated when Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw ordered his players off the pitch to protest a disputed penalty decision. The walk-off halted the match for 17 minutes and sparked widespread criticism.
CAF also cited Morocco for several violations. Ball boys interfered with play, while players invaded the VAR area and failed to respect match officials.
CAF’s Sanctions
CAF punished Senegal more severely, issuing fines totaling $615,000. The disciplinary board ruled that the walk-off seriously damaged the image of the game.
Morocco received fines amounting to $315,000 for misconduct and failure to control its players and technical staff.
Individual Punishments
- Pape Thiaw (Senegal): Five-match ban from CAF competitions and a $100,000 fine for unsporting conduct.
- Ismaël Saibari (Morocco): Three-match ban and a $100,000 fine.
- Additional bans:
- Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr (Senegal) received two-match bans each.
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) received a two-match ban, with one match suspended for a year.
Morocco’s Appeal Fails
CAF rejected Morocco’s protest that sought to strip Senegal of the title due to the walk-off incident. The board ruled that the result stands.
Senegal remains the official AFCON 2025 champion, despite one of the tournament’s most controversial finals.
