Behind the scenes of the crisis: Why were these sanctions imposed?
The spark ignited in the final minutes of the final match between Morocco and Senegal, as the encounter witnessed unprecedented tension, including violent protests against refereeing decisions, a temporary withdrawal of the Senegalese team from the field, and verbal and physical clashes between technical staff and players, prompting the CAF Disciplinary Committee to intervene .
First: Detailed Sanctions Against the Senegalese Team (Champions)
Despite Senegal’s title win, the price was high in terms of suspensions and fines:
At the Technical Staff Level:
Coach Pape Bouna Thiaw was suspended for five matches and fined $100,000. This came as a result of the referee’s report, which accused him of directly inciting players to leave the field in protest against a penalty kick, threatening to abandon the match altogether.
At the Player Level:
Star players Ismaila Sarr and Elimane Ndiaye were suspended for varying periods due to their direct altercations with the refereeing team and the use of abusive language.
Financial Penalties (Standard):
A $300,000 fine against the Senegalese Football Federation due to the “aggressive behavior” of players and officials.
Another $300,000 fine due to Senegalese fans throwing bottles and some of them invading the pitch during the celebrations.
The total fines levied against Senegal exceeded $615,000.
Second: Detailed Penalties Against the Moroccan Side (Host)
Morocco’s hosting of the tournament did not prevent the imposition of severe penalties on its players and federation:
Player Suspensions:
Achraf Hakimi: Suspended for two matches (one effective and one suspended) for his excessive protest against the referee after the final whistle.
Ismail Saïbari: Received the harshest penalty, a three-match suspension and a $100,000 fine, for his involvement in an unsportsmanlike altercation with the Senegalese bench and goalkeeper.
Organizational and Technical Penalties:
A $200,000 fine due to the misconduct of the ball boys, who were accused of deliberately delaying the game and preventing Senegalese players from receiving the ball in the final minutes.
A $100,000 fine for members of the Moroccan technical staff entering the VAR area to attempt to influence the referee’s decision.
A $15,000 fine for the use of laser pointers by Moroccan fans towards the Senegalese goalkeeper.
Third: The Fate of the Moroccan Protest and the Tournament Results :
Following the match, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation filed a formal protest demanding that Senegal be declared the loser due to leaving the field before the end of regulation time (temporary withdrawal).
However, CAF:
Rejected the protest : The committee upheld the match result and Senegal’s victory, considering that returning to the field and completing the match negated the charge of “final withdrawal.”
Confirmed the standings: Morocco remained in second place (runner-up), with some of its players suspended from participating in the start of the next qualifiers.
Future Impact:
These sanctions are the largest financial penalties in CAF’s history, as the African Football Confederation sought to put an end to the “chaos” that accompanies major matches. These suspensions will only apply to African competitions (the AFCON qualifiers or the upcoming AFCON) and will not affect the players’ participation in the 2026 World Cup finals.