The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has imposed disciplinary sanctions on several players, including high-profile stars Achraf Hakimi and Ismaïla Sarr, following chaotic scenes that marred the conclusion of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.
CAF confirmed in a statement that its Disciplinary Board reviewed reports from match officials, security personnel and video evidence after disorder erupted at the final whistle of the tournament’s showpiece match. The incidents reportedly involved confrontations between players, officials and security staff, as well as breaches of post-match conduct regulations.
Hakimi and Sarr are among a group of players found to have violated CAF’s disciplinary code. The governing body announced that sanctions range from match bans to fines, depending on the severity of each offence. CAF, however, stopped short of disclosing full details of every individual incident, citing ongoing internal processes.
“CAF remains committed to upholding discipline, respect and fair play across all its competitions,” the statement read. “Any conduct that undermines the values of African football will be addressed decisively.”
The chaotic scenes overshadowed what had otherwise been a highly competitive and entertaining AFCON tournament, drawing criticism from fans and pundits alike. Analysts have called on CAF to strengthen match-day security and post-match protocols to prevent similar incidents in future editions.
The bans mean affected players could miss upcoming international fixtures or CAF-sanctioned competitions, dealing a blow to their national teams as preparations begin for World Cup qualifiers and other continental engagements.
CAF has reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on indiscipline, emphasizing that players, officials and team staff all share responsibility for preserving the integrity of the game on Africa’s biggest football stage.
