The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has denounced the conduct of certain players and officials that occurred during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 final between host nation Morocco and Senegal, played in Rabat on Sunday night.

In a statement published on its official website on Monday, CAF expressed strong disapproval of the incidents that disrupted the highly anticipated final. The continental football authority described the behaviour witnessed during the match as unacceptable, particularly actions targeted at match officials and tournament organisers.

CAF further revealed that it has begun a detailed review of all available video footage from the final and will forward its findings to the relevant disciplinary bodies. According to the statement, appropriate sanctions will be imposed on individuals found to have violated the rules.

The final was overshadowed by disorder after Senegalese players briefly left the pitch in protest of a controversial late penalty awarded to Morocco. Tensions escalated as most of the Senegal team walked off, while agitated visiting supporters threw objects and attempted to gain access to the field at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. The penalty decision came at a crucial moment, giving Morocco a potential match-winning opportunity in the closing seconds.

Senegal captain Sadio Mané eventually intervened, appealing to his teammates to return to play. Moroccan midfielder Brahim Díaz took the penalty deep into stoppage time, but his attempted chip was brilliantly saved by Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, leaving the scoreline at 0–0 and forcing the match into extra time.

Senegal ultimately emerged victorious after midfielder Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal in extra time, securing the country’s second AFCON title in recent years. However, the triumph was largely eclipsed by the controversies surrounding the match.

The incident attracted global reaction, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemning the scenes as “ugly” and reiterating that violence has no place in football. While congratulating Senegal on their achievement in a social media post, Infantino also called on CAF’s disciplinary panels to take firm action.

Morocco’s head coach, Walid Regragui, also voiced his disappointment, labelling the events “shameful” and stating that they failed to reflect positively on African football during his post-match remarks.

CAF’s ongoing investigation follows a series of tensions throughout the tournament, including previous complaints from Senegal regarding organisational challenges and claims of biased officiating in Morocco’s semifinal clash against Nigeria.