CAF Slams Senegal, Morocco with Record Fines After Chaotic AFCON 2025 Final

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Africa’s football governing body, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has handed down unprecedented fines and suspensions following chaotic scenes that marred the AFCON 2025 final, imposing heavy sanctions on both Senegal and Morocco after a disciplinary review.

In a statement released by CAF’s Disciplinary Board, Senegal were fined a staggering $615,000, the highest penalty in the tournament’s history. The sanctions stem from crowd misconduct, unsporting behavior, and a controversial walk-off by players during the final. Head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw was suspended for five matches, while attacking stars Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr received two-match bans each.

Despite the penalties, CAF rejected Morocco’s appeal seeking to strip Senegal of the title, officially confirming the Teranga Lions as AFCON 2025 champions.

Morocco were also hit with significant punishment, receiving $315,000 in fines for multiple violations, including disruptive actions by ball boys, technical staff entering the VAR area without authorization, and supporters using laser pointers during play. Team captain Achraf Hakimi was handed a two-match suspension, with one match deferred, while midfielder Ismaël Saibari was banned for three matches and fined an additional $100,000.

CAF stated that the sanctions were necessary to protect the integrity of the game and deter future misconduct at major continental tournaments.

While the final result remains unchanged, the disciplinary decisions will have serious implications for both nations, particularly as the suspensions will affect upcoming FIFA World Cup qualification matches.

The ruling has sparked widespread debate across African football circles, with fans and analysts divided between those praising CAF’s firm stance on discipline and others questioning whether the punishments go far enough to prevent future chaos on the continent’s biggest stage.