CAF Fines Senegal FA $615,000 Over AFCON Final Misconduct

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has handed the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) a hefty fine of $615,000 for misconduct involving players, officials and supporters during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.

The continental showpiece, 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 captain Sadio Mané, Senegal returned to the field and went on to win the final after extra time. Midfielder Pape Gueye emerged as the hero, scoring the decisive goal after Morocco’s Brahim Díaz had earlier missed the contentious penalty.

After a thorough investigation, CAF ruled that the conduct of Senegal’s players, technical staff and supporters breached its disciplinary regulations, bringing the game into disrepute.

In a statement, CAF announced a breakdown of the sanctions as follows:

• $300,000 fine for the improper conduct of Senegalese supporters
• $300,000 fine for the unsporting conduct of players and technical staff
• $15,000 fine for team misconduct, following cautions received by five players

“To fine the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (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,” CAF stated.

CAF further cited the unsporting behaviour of the players and technical staff as a serious breach of its principles of loyalty, fair play and integrity, while also sanctioning the federation for the accumulation of player cautions.

In response to the ruling, the Senegal FA is expected to file an appeal in the coming days, contesting the sanctions imposed by CAF.

Despite the disciplinary fallout, Senegal’s dramatic triumph remains one of the most talked-about finals in AFCON history, both for its on-field drama and the controversy that surrounded it.

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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