The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced disciplinary measures against the national football teams of Senegal and Morocco following a tumultuous Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final that took place recently. The final, which saw Senegal defeat Morocco 1-0, was marred by controversy when Senegal’s coach, Pape Thiaw, instructed his players to leave the pitch after a penalty was awarded to Morocco in the game’s dying minutes.
The situation created a storm of confusion that lasted 17 minutes, before Senegal’s star player, Sadio Mane, encouraged his teammates to return and finish the match. Unfortunately for Morocco, their player Brahim Diaz missed the penalty, leading to Senegal clinching the trophy.
Both FIFA and CAF criticized the actions of the Senegalese players and coaching staff, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino deeming the player’s boycott of the game “unacceptable” and calling for appropriate punishments. Subsequently, after a thorough investigation, CAF issued a series of fines and suspensions.
Thiaw received a five-match suspension for “unsporting conduct” that was deemed detrimental to the integrity of the sport. He was also fined $100,000. The Senegalese Football Federation was sanctioned with a heavy fine totaling $615,000, which includes penalties for the actions of the players and the misbehavior of their supporters. Notably, player Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr both received two-match bans for their unsporting behavior toward the referee.
Morocco faced their own set of sanctions, with their captain, Achraf Hakimi, receiving a two-match suspension and the Moroccan Football Federation fined $315,000 for various infractions, including the inappropriate conduct of their players and technical staff. The Federation also faced additional fines for the actions of ball boys and fan behavior during the match.
Despite Morocco’s protest to CAF claiming that Senegal’s actions affected the mental state of their players and contributed to missing the penalty, the CAF dismissed the appeal. Consequently, Senegal was confirmed as the legitimate AFCON champions for 2025, upholding their victory despite the chaotic circumstances.
This ruling underscores the authority of CAF in maintaining discipline within the sport and deducting penalties for behavior that undermines the integrity of football. Both teams will need to reflect on their conduct moving forward as they aim to uphold the spirit of the game in future competitions.