The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has handed down sweeping punishments following the chaotic 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, suspending Senegal coach Pape Thiaw and Moroccan star Achraf Hakimi while imposing fines totalling more than $1.1 million.
Pape Thiaw was banned for five matches and fined $100,000 for what CAF described as “unsporting conduct” after he ordered Senegal players to walk off the pitch during the heated final against Morocco.
In the same ruling, CAF fined the Senegalese Football Federation $615,000 over the team’s conduct and the behaviour of fans at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Two Senegal players, Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr, were also suspended for two matches each for “unsporting behaviour towards the referee.”
Morocco was not spared. The Moroccan Football Federation received fines totalling $315,000 for offences ranging from ball boys’ conduct to players and officials invading the VAR area and supporters using lasers during the match.
Hakimi and Ismael Saibari were handed one- and two-match bans respectively for throwing Senegal goalkeeper Eduard Mendy’s towel into the crowd during the rain-soaked encounter.
CAF also rejected Morocco’s appeal to overturn the match result, insisting that the controversial walk-off by Senegal did not warrant a replay.
The drama erupted after the referee, following a VAR review, awarded Morocco a late penalty for a foul on Brahim Diaz. In protest, Thiaw ordered his players and staff off the pitch as tensions spilled into the stands, with angry fans confronting stewards and scuffles breaking out.
After nearly 20 minutes, Senegal returned to the field, survived the penalty scare when Diaz’s Panenka kick was saved, and went on to clinch a historic second AFCON title through Pape Gueye’s stunning strike.
The sanctions mark one of the toughest disciplinary responses in recent AFCON history, underlining CAF’s resolve to restore order and discipline after a final that descended into chaos.
