FIFA confirms no international sanctions for Senegal following the chaotic 2025 AFCON final; CAF disciplinary verdict is still pending

FIFA has reportedly clarified that Senegal will face no international sanctions following the chaotic 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, even as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) prepares to announce its disciplinary verdict.

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The AFCON 2025 final between Senegal and Morocco descended into disorder after referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded a controversial late penalty to the hosts during stoppage time.

Senegal’s head coach, Pape Thiaw, ordered his players off the pitch in protest, causing a stoppage of around 17 minutes. Play resumed only after captain Sadio Mane persuaded his teammates to return.

Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missed the penalty, sending the match into extra time, where Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal to secure Senegal’s 1–0 victory and their second AFCON title.

CAF condemned the scenes as “unacceptable behaviour” and launched an immediate investigation through its Ethics and Disciplinary Committee, which met on Tuesday to review submissions regarding the incident.

Despite the ongoing investigation, Senegalese journalist Mamadou Ndiaye reported on X that FIFA has confirmed Senegal will face no international sanctions.

“Any potential sanction from CAF will remain strictly African. No threat whatsoever to the Lions’ participation in the World Cup,” he wrote.

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CAF is expected to announce its final verdict in the coming days, with reports suggesting that heavy sanctions could still be imposed on individuals involved, including coach Pape Thiaw, while Senegal’s global standing and World Cup participation remain unaffected.