Will CAF sanctions affect the World Cup for Senegal and Morocco? | OneFootball

CAF sanctions: They do not apply to the 2026 World Cup

Senegal Vs Morocco / @x.com/Benking443/

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has handed down sanctions to the Senegalese and Moroccan federations, as well as to several players, following the incidents that occurred during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.

Senegal clinched the title for the second time in their history by defeating Morocco 1-0 in a fiercely contested match held on January 18.

CAF suspended Senegal's coach Pape Thiaw for five matches and fined him $100,000. Players Elimane Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr have each been suspended for two matches. Additionally, the Senegalese Football Federation has been hit with a $615,000 fine due to the behavior of its supporters, players, and technical staff.

For Morocco, player Ismael Saibari has been suspended for three matches and fined $100,000, while Achraf Hakimi is suspended for two matches, with one of those suspended for a year. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has been ordered to pay a $315,000 fine for the conduct of its players, technical staff, and ball boys, as well as for the use of lasers by fans.

CAF sanctions: They do not apply to the 2026 World Cup

An official from CAF's disciplinary committee clarified that these sanctions will not apply to matches at the upcoming World Cup, scheduled to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19.

They only concern competitions organized by CAF, notably the qualifiers for AFCON 2027, which are set to kick off during the next international break in September.