The Confederation of African Football has rescheduled its disciplinary hearing regarding the controversial AFCON 2025 final to Tuesday, January 27, after the Senegal Football Federation requested additional time to prepare its defense. The hearing was originally set for Sunday, January 25, but CAF agreed to the postponement to ensure due process and fairness for all parties involved.
The disciplinary committee will examine multiple incidents from the January 18 final in Rabat, where Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 in extra time amid unprecedented chaos. The match was suspended for approximately 17 minutes after head coach Pape Thiaw ordered his players to leave the pitch in protest of a controversial penalty awarded to Morocco and a disallowed Senegalese goal.
In a significant procedural move, Ousmane Kane, the Senegalese official who heads CAF's disciplinary committee, has been temporarily recused from the proceedings. CAF confirmed that Kane stepped aside to avoid any perception of conflict of interest and to reinforce confidence in the integrity and transparency of the disciplinary process.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has filed formal complaints with both CAF and FIFA, arguing that Senegal's walkout constitutes a serious breach of competition regulations. Morocco is seeking sporting sanctions and potentially a reassessment of the match outcome, though such a drastic measure appears unlikely given that play eventually resumed and concluded.
Potential sanctions facing Senegal include a suspension for coach Pape Thiaw spanning several matches, financial penalties for the federation, and possible closed-door matches due to supporter behavior. More severe consequences, including potential implications for the 2026 World Cup participation of players and officials involved, have been discussed but remain speculative. The Senegal Football Federation has publicly downplayed concerns about sanctions, signaling confidence in their defense.
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