The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Thursday, January 29, 2026, disciplinary sanctions against the national teams of Senegal and Morocco, including players and staff, following the highly controversial final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held at [city of the final]. The measures come after incidents during the match, including a disputed penalty, unsportsmanlike behavior from certain players and staff, and disturbances involving supporters.

CAF imposed significant disciplinary measures following the Senegal – Morocco final. Senegalese coach Pape Bouna Thiaw was suspended for five official CAF matches and fined $100,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct. Two Senegalese players, Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr, were also suspended for two matches for inappropriate behavior towards the referee.

The Senegalese Football Federation was fined a total of approximately $600,000 to $615,000, accounting for the behavior of players, staff, and supporters.

On the Moroccan side, player Achraf Hakimi was suspended for two matches, including one with a one-year probation, while Ismaël Saibari received a three-match suspension and a $100,000 fine. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation was fined $315,000, mainly for incidents involving ball boys, the invasion of the VAR area by officials, and the use of lasers by supporters.

The final was marked by a highly disputed penalty in the final minutes, leading to Senegal threatening to abandon the field. Incidents involving players, officials, and supporters also occurred, prompting CAF to impose these sanctions to protect the integrity and image of the competition.

CAF also rejected Morocco’s official protest seeking to annul the match result. The sanctions apply only to CAF competitions and will not affect the participation of teams or players in other international tournaments, including the 2026 World Cup.