The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has confirmed it will formally appeal the sanctions imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following the chaotic scenes that overshadowed the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final between Morocco and Senegal in Rabat.
In a strongly worded statement released on Tuesday, 3 February, after receiving CAF’s disciplinary rulings, the Moroccan federation expressed deep dissatisfaction with the decisions of the CAF Disciplinary Committee, describing the sanctions as disproportionate to the incidents that unfolded during the final on Sunday, 18 January.
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The AFCON showpiece, which Senegal won 1–0 after extra time, was marred by prolonged protests, confrontations around the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) area, and crowd unrest triggered by a controversial late VAR decision. Tensions escalated when Senegalese players and officials briefly walked off the pitch in protest, while sections of supporters attempted to invade the field, forcing security personnel to intervene and halting play for nearly 20 minutes.
The punishments
CAF later imposed heavy sanctions on both federations, as well as individual players and officials, citing breaches of its Disciplinary Code.
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Senegal head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw received a five-match suspension for unsporting conduct and bringing the game into disrepute, along with a $100,000 fine. Two Senegal players, Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr, were also handed two-match suspensions.
The Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) was fined a total of $615,000, including penalties for the improper conduct of supporters and the unsporting behaviour of players and technical staff. Morocco were similarly sanctioned, with defender Achraf Hakimi suspended for two matches, one of which was suspended for a year, while Ismaël Saibari received a three-match ban and a $100,000 fine.
CAF also fined the FRMF $200,000 for the inappropriate behaviour of ball boys, $100,000 for the conduct of players and officials who invaded the VAR review area, and $15,000 for the use of laser pointers by Moroccan supporters. In addition, CAF dismissed a formal protest lodged by Morocco, ruling that it lacked merit.
Not satisfied
Reacting to the rulings, the FRMF argued that the sanctions failed to reflect the gravity of key incidents during the final, particularly the withdrawal of the Senegalese team from the pitch and the attempted pitch invasion by supporters, which it said fundamentally compromised the integrity of the match.
The federation disclosed that it had already communicated its concerns directly to CAF, with its president writing to CAF President Patrice Motsepe to question the proportionality and consistency of the disciplinary measures.
Emphasising its commitment to due process, the FRMF confirmed that it has now decided to pursue an appeal, stating that the move is aimed at protecting its institutional rights and exhausting all legal and regulatory avenues within CAF’s judicial framework.
The fallout from the final drew widespread criticism across global football. FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemned the scenes, describing the conduct of some players, officials and supporters as unacceptable, while stressing that violence and intimidation have no place in the game.
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Broader implications for African football
The appeal adds another layer of tension to an Africa Cup of Nations tournament that was already among the most dramatic in recent memory. Beyond the immediate dispute between Morocco and CAF, the case raises broader questions about consistency in disciplinary enforcement, accountability during high-stakes matches, and CAF’s capacity to manage crises at flagship events.
As the appeal process unfolds, African football waits for clarity; not only on the fate of the sanctions, but what the episode will mean for future AFCON finals, crowd management standards and the credibility of CAF’s disciplinary structures.
For Morocco, the move is about more than punishment. It is a battle over responsibility, fairness and the legacy of an AFCON final that will be remembered as much for its chaos as for the football itself.
