CAF Fines Senegal, Morocco After Chaotic AFCON Final
CAF imposed more than $1 million in fines and suspended coach Pape Thiaw for five African games after the Jan. 18 final in Rabat.
Overview
The Confederation of African Football announced fines totaling more than $1 million and banned Senegal coach Pape Thiaw for five African matches, saying it also penalized players and federations after the Jan. 18 final in Rabat.
The sanctions follow Senegal players walking off in protest of a late penalty, a roughly 15-minute stoppage before Morocco missed the spot kick and post-match scuffles involving supporters, journalists and ball boys, CAF said.
Senegal Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said the reactions should be seen as "emotional outbursts," and Morocco coach Walid Regragui said the match gave African soccer a "shameful" image, according to statements from both countries.
CAF fined the Senegalese Football Federation $615,000 and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation $315,000, including a $200,000 penalty over ball boys' conduct, and suspended players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr for two matches each, banned Achraf Hakimi for two matches with one suspended and banned Ismael Saibari for three matches and fined him $100,000, CAF said.
CAF dismissed Morocco's appeal to have the result overturned and said the disciplinary measures apply only to CAF competitions and not the FIFA World Cup starting in June, while football officials said FIFA will have the deciding say on the 2030 final venue.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the coverage as a reputational crisis by emphasizing chaos and sanctions. Editorial framing uses loaded descriptors ("shambolic," "bizarre") and highlights fines, bans and stadium implications. Source content is balanced: coach's "shameful" quote and the Senegal PM's "emotional outbursts" remark are presented, as are rights groups' concerns.
Sources (3)
FAQ
CAF fined the Senegalese Football Federation $615,000 and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation $315,000 (including $200,000 for ball boys' conduct). Senegal coach Pape Thiaw was suspended for five matches; players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr for two matches each; Morocco's Achraf Hakimi for two matches (one suspended); Ismael Saibari for three matches and $100,000 fine.
Senegal players walked off in protest of a late VAR-awarded penalty to Morocco, causing a 15-minute stoppage; Morocco missed the penalty, followed by post-match scuffles involving supporters, journalists, and ball boys.
CAF dismissed Morocco's appeal to overturn the result, ruling the protest lacked merit; the sanctions apply only to CAF competitions.
Senegal PM Ousmane Sonko called the reactions 'emotional outbursts'; Morocco coach Walid Regragui said the match gave African soccer a 'shameful' image.
History
This story does not have any previous versions.