CAF Fines Moroccan FA $415,000 Over AFCON Final Misconduct

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has imposed a total fine of $415,000 on the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) for improper conduct involving players, technical staff and supporters during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.

The highly charged final, held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, was marred by controversy after Senegal’s Teranga Lions walked off the pitch for 17 minutes in protest against a penalty awarded to hosts Morocco.

Following the intervention of Senegal captain Sadio Mané, the West Africans returned to the field and eventually claimed the AFCON title after extra time. Midfielder Pape Gueye proved decisive, scoring the winning goal after Morocco’s Brahim Díaz missed the crucial penalty.

After a detailed review of incidents during the final, CAF ruled that several actions by the Moroccan camp and match officials’ surroundings breached its disciplinary regulations.

In a statement, CAF outlined the sanctions against the FRMF as follows:

• $200,000 fine for the inappropriate behaviour of stadium ball boys
• $100,000 fine for the improper conduct of Moroccan players and technical staff, who invaded the VAR review area and obstructed the referee’s work
• $100,000 fine related to misconduct involving player Ismail Saibari
• $15,000 fine for the use of lasers by Moroccan supporters

“To fine the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) USD 200,000 for the inappropriate behaviour of the stadium’s ball boys during the aforementioned match,” CAF said.

CAF further cited violations of Articles 82 and 83 of its Disciplinary Code, stressing that the actions of players and officials undermined the principles of fair play and integrity.

In response to the ruling, the Moroccan FA is expected to lodge an appeal in the coming days against the sanctions handed down by CAF.

The AFCON final has since remained a major talking point, remembered not only for Senegal’s dramatic triumph but also for the disciplinary fallout that followed.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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