The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has condemned what it described as “unacceptable behaviour” by some players and officials during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 final between Morocco and Senegal, played in Rabat on Sunday night, and has promised disciplinary action against those found culpable.
In a press statement released after the dramatic final, CAF expressed strong disapproval of conduct that detracted from the showpiece occasion, particularly behaviour directed at the refereeing team and match organisers.
“CAF strongly condemns any inappropriate behaviour which occurs during matches, especially those targeting the refereeing team or match organisers,” the statement read.
The final, which Senegal won after extra time, was played in a highly charged atmosphere and was punctuated by a number of controversial moments that fuelled tensions on and off the pitch. Several refereeing decisions, including a disputed penalty call and the disallowing of a goal, sparked angry reactions from players and officials, with prolonged protests delaying the restart of play.
Television footage and reports from the stadium showed heated confrontations with match officials, animated protests from technical areas, and moments where control of the game appeared strained as emotions boiled over. At one stage, play was temporarily halted amid protests, prompting intervention from team officials and captains to restore calm.
CAF’s statement did not single out any individuals or teams, but the governing body confirmed that it is reviewing all available footage from the match and will submit its findings to the appropriate disciplinary bodies.
“CAF is reviewing all footage and will refer the matter to competent bodies for appropriate action to be taken against those found guilty,” it said.
Possible sanctions under CAF regulations could range from fines and suspensions to warnings or bans, depending on the severity of the conduct and the findings of the review. Incidents that typically attract disciplinary measures include aggressive dissent towards referees, failure to control technical areas, and actions deemed to bring the game to disrepute.
CAF has indicated that further communication will follow once the review process is concluded and any disciplinary decisions are taken.
