AFCON chaos has left African football bruised and embarrassed. What should have been a proud night for the continent collapsed into disorder, fury, and sanctions. The African Cup of Nations 2025 final in Rabat ended with Senegal lifting the trophy, but the celebrations quickly gave way to punishment.
CAF stepped in hard. Its Disciplinary Board reviewed reports, videos, and testimonies. The verdict hit both finalists with bans and massive fines. Senegal suffered the harshest blow, while Morocco also paid a heavy price.
AFCON Chaos Exposes Deep Discipline Failures at the Final
CAF’s Disciplinary Board acted after concluding that serious breaches occurred during and after the AFCON 2025 final. Officials reviewed match reports, video clips, and written submissions. They found clear violations of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
The board ruled that player conduct, technical staff behavior, and crowd actions crossed red lines. CAF said these actions damaged the image of African football and undermined fair play.
The sanctions aimed to restore order and protect the integrity of CAF competitions. CAF stressed that no team, player, or official stands above the rules, even on the biggest stage.
Senegal Pays the Highest Price for AFCON Chaos
Senegal won the final after extra time, but victory came with a steep cost. CAF placed the heaviest sanctions on the Senegalese camp.
Head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw received the most severe individual punishment. CAF banned him for five official CAF matches. The board ruled that his conduct showed poor sportsmanship and violated integrity rules. CAF also fined him USD 100,000, a staggering penalty for a coach at international level.
Two Senegalese players faced suspensions as well. Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr each received two-match bans. CAF found them guilty of unsporting behavior toward the referee during the final. The board made it clear that intimidation of match officials will not be tolerated.
CAF also punished the Senegalese federation heavily. The Fédération Sénégalaise de Football paid for the actions of players, staff, and supporters.
CAF fined the FSF USD 300,000 for the misconduct of supporters. The board said crowd behavior damaged football’s reputation. Another USD 300,000 fine followed for unsporting conduct by players and technical staff. CAF cited breaches of loyalty, fair play, and integrity.
CAF added a further USD 15,000 fine after five Senegal players received yellow cards, triggering team misconduct rules.
In total, Senegal’s federation now owes USD 615,000, excluding the coach’s personal fine. The message landed hard. Winning the trophy did not shield Senegal from accountability.
Morocco Sanctioned as CAF Cracks Down on AFCON Chaos
Morocco also faced punishment for its role in the disorder. CAF ruled that actions linked to the host nation contributed to the chaos that overshadowed the final.
Achraf Hakimi received a two-match suspension for unsporting behavior. CAF suspended one of those matches for a year on probation, placing the defender under strict warning.
Midfielder Ismaël Saibari suffered a tougher penalty. CAF banned him for three matches and fined him USD 100,000. The board said his conduct crossed disciplinary limits expected at a continental final.
CAF also fined the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football USD 200,000. The board blamed inappropriate behavior by stadium ball boys during the match. CAF stated that even minor roles must respect discipline at elite tournaments.
Beyond sanctions, Morocco tried to overturn the final result. The FRMF filed a formal protest, accusing Senegal of breaching AFCON regulations. CAF reviewed the complaint and rejected it in full.
The dismissal ended all legal avenues. Senegal kept the title. CAF closed the case.
