Sanctioned by CAF, Morocco strikes back

Africa 29 January 2026 at 10:02

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI

News Editor

The Confederation of African Football officially made its decision on Thursday morning regarding the heated controversy that erupted after the stormy final between Senegal and Morocco. After several weeks of anticipation, the continental body unveiled a disciplinary arsenal deemed moderate for the Senegalese camp, but significantly harsher toward the Moroccans, notably handing suspensions to Ismaël Saibari and Achraf Hakimi, along with hefty fines.

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These decisions sparked strong bewilderment on the Moroccan side, especially since the request for a win by default—lodged after the Senegalese left the pitch—was dismissed by CAF in its official statement.

According to information relayed by Médias24, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation has decided to challenge this ruling by appealing to the commission. The FRMF particularly regrets that its players did not receive the same procedural guarantees as their Senegalese counterparts, reigniting an already highly charged atmosphere surrounding this final.

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