CAF Announces Disciplinary Decisions: Senegal Coach Receives Lenient Sanction, Hakimi and Saibari Face Surprising Penalties
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced disciplinary decisions issued by its disciplinary body, following incidents that occurred during the final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which pitted the Moroccan national team against the Senegalese national team.
The Disciplinary Committee decided to impose a series of sanctions on the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and the Senegalese Football Federation, as well as several players and technical staff, due to violations deemed contrary to the provisions of CAF's Disciplinary Code.
Regarding the Senegalese side, national team coach Pape Bouna Thiaw was suspended for five official CAF matches and fined $100,000 for unsporting behavior, undermining fair play principles, and damaging the image of football. Additionally, Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr were each suspended for two matches due to unsporting conduct towards the referee.
The committee also imposed financial penalties on the Senegalese Football Federation totaling $615,000. These fines were attributed to crowd behavior, unsporting conduct by players and technical staff, and a penalty related to five players receiving yellow cards during the match.
On the other hand, the Disciplinary Committee suspended Moroccan national team player Achraf Hakimi for two matches, one of which is suspended for a period of one year. Ismael Saibari was suspended for three official matches and fined $100,000 for unsporting behavior.
Financial penalties totaling $315,000 were also imposed on the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. These fines were for inappropriate behavior by ball boys, the use of lasers by some fans, and players and technical staff entering the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review area and obstructing the referee's work.
In the same context, CAF announced its rejection of the appeal filed by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation concerning accusations of the Senegalese Football Federation violating articles of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations.
These decisions follow a disciplinary session dedicated to reviewing all reports related to the final match, with the sanctions expected to be implemented during upcoming continental competitions.
