The Confederation of African football (CAF) has taken disciplinary actions against AFCON 2025 winning coach, Pape Thiaw and CAF Men’s Player of the Year, Achraf Hakimi for their roles in the melee that ensued during the final of the AFCON in Rabat.
While Hakimi was handed a two-game suspension for unsporting behaviour, Thiaw was slammed with a five game suspension and a fine of $100,000 for breaching CAF’s disciplinary codes as well as bringing the game to disrepute.
In a statement issued by CAF, several other players as well as the FA’s of both Senegal and Morocco were not spared the hammer of its Disciplinary Board following their investigation of the said incident.
The Communique reads:
The CAF Disciplinary Board took the following decisions:
(1). On the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), the CAF Disciplinary Board decided :
- To suspend Mr Pape Bouna Thiaw, the Head Coach of the Senegalese National Team, for five (5) official CAF matches for his unsporting conduct in violation of the CAF Disciplinary Code principles of fair play and integrity and for bringing the game into disrepute.
- Mr Pape Bouna Thiaw was also fined USD 100,000.
- To suspend the Senegalese National Team player, Mr Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye for two (2) official CAF matches, for his unsporting behaviour towards the referee.
- To suspend Senegalese National Team player, Mr Ismaila Sarr for two (2) official CAF matches for his unsporting behaviour towards the referee.
- To fine the FSF, USD 300,000 for the improper conduct of its supporters, which brought the game into disrepute in violation of the CAF Disciplinary Code principles of fair play and integrity.
- To fine the FSF, USD 300,000 for the unsporting conduct of their players and technical staff in violation of the CAF Disciplinary Code principles of fair play, loyalty and integrity. The unsporting conduct of their players and the technical staff also brought the game into disrepute.
- To fine the FSF, USD 15,000 for the misconduct of its National Team, due to five (5) of its players having received cautions.
(2). On the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), the CAF Disciplinary Board decided :
- To suspend the Moroccan National Team player, Mr Achraf Hakimi for two (2) official CAF matches, with one (1) these matches being suspended for one (1) year from the date of this decision, for his unsporting behaviour.
- To suspend the Moroccan National Team player, Mr Ismaël Saibari for three (3) official CAF matches for his unsporting behaviour.
- Mr Ismaël Saibari was also fined USD 100,000.
- To fine the FRMF USD 200,000, for the inappropriate behaviour of the stadium’s ball boys during the aforementioned match.
- To fine the FRMF USD 100,000 for the improper conduct of their National Team players and technical staff, who invaded the VAR review area and obstructed the referee’s work, in violation of the principles of fair play and integrity, as stated in Articles 82 and 83 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
- To fine the FRMF USD 15,000 for the use of lasers by its supporters during the aforementioned match.
Meanwhile, CAF has also ruled that the Morocco’s FA petition for Senegal to be stripped of the AFCON title lacked merit.
CAF’s verdict:
The CAF Disciplinary Board rejected the protest lodged by the FRMF regarding alleged violations by the FSF of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations, relating to the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Final.
