The Confederation of African Football has moved swiftly to restore order after scenes of disorder overshadowed the Africa Cup of Nations final, announcing sweeping disciplinary measures against players and football teams involved in the post-match fallout.
In a firm decision issued after a disciplinary review, CAF handed out suspensions and fines to players, officials, and national football bodies, citing misconduct, intimidation of match officials, and actions capable of bringing the game into disrepute.
The sanctions stem from incidents that erupted during and after the tense final between Senegal and Morocco.
Most notably, Senegal’s technical bench was hit with decisive punishment, including a multi-match suspension and a substantial financial penalty for the national team’s head coach.
CAF said the sanctions reflected unacceptable conduct directed at match officials during the final stages of the game.
Furthermore, several players from both finalists were suspended from future CAF competitions for unsporting behaviour, while the football federations of Senegal and Morocco were fined heavily over crowd control failures and breaches of competition regulations.
CAF, however, dismissed Morocco’s formal protest seeking to overturn the match result, stressing that disciplinary sanctions do not alter the outcome of the final.
As a result, Senegal retained the AFCON title despite the post-final controversy.
In a statement on the rulings, CAF said the measures were necessary to “protect the integrity of African football” and send a clear message that misconduct at any level will attract firm consequences.
Meanwhile, the continental body clarified that the bans apply strictly to CAF-organised competitions and will not affect players’ eligibility for non-CAF tournaments.
The decision closes one of the most contentious chapters in recent AFCON history, even as it reinforces CAF’s resolve to clamp down on indiscipline at Africa’s biggest football stage.