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Gamers from either side conflict after a controversial penalty was awarded to Morocco late on through the Africa Cup of Nations ultimate soccer match between Senegal and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026.
Youssef Loulidi/AP
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Youssef Loulidi/AP
CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Africa’s soccer physique issued fines price greater than $1 million and banned Senegal’s coach and Senegalese and Morocco gamers Wednesday following a shambolic African Cup soccer ultimate this month that concerned a walk-off protest by one of many groups, followers attempting to storm the sphere and fights amongst journalists.
The bans solely apply to African video games and never the World Cup kicking off in June that Senegal and Morocco have each certified for.
The sanctions introduced by the Confederation of African Soccer included fines totaling $615,000 for the Senegalese soccer federation and $315,000 for the Morocco federation for unsporting and improper conduct by their gamers, teaching employees and supporters, amongst different offenses.
The Jan. 18 African soccer showpiece was marred by Senegal gamers strolling off led by coach Pape Thiaw in protest in opposition to a penalty awarded late in regulation time to host Morocco. Thiaw was banned for 5 African video games and given a person high-quality of $100,000 for bringing the sport into disrepute, the African confederation mentioned.
The sport restarted after a delay of round quarter-hour, Morocco missed the penalty, and Senegal received the African title 1-0 after additional time.
The heated ultimate in Rabat additionally noticed supporters attempting to storm the sphere, Morocco and Senegal gamers scuffling on the sidelines, reporters from the 2 nations combating in press areas, and a weird sequence the place Moroccan ball boys tried to grab a towel being utilized by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy — in an obvious bid to distract him and assist their staff win the continental title.
That habits by the house staff’s ball boys led to a $200,000 high-quality for Morocco’s federation, which can be a co-host of the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal and has come below scrutiny for the chaotic African ultimate.
Morocco hoped to host the 2030 World Cup ultimate on the under-construction Hassan II Stadium, set to be the biggest soccer enviornment on the earth with a capability of 115,000 after its deliberate completion in 2028. However this month’s African ultimate mirrored badly on it.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui mentioned the sport had given African soccer a “shameful” picture.
Senegal gamers Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr had been banned for 2 African video games, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi was additionally banned for 2 video games, with one suspended, and Morocco’s Ismael Saibari was banned for 3 video games and fined $100,000 for unsporting habits.
Senegal’s Sadio Mane holds the trophy aloft as he celebrates with teammates after successful the Africa Cup of Nations ultimate soccer match between Senegal and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026.
Youssef Loulidi/AP
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Youssef Loulidi/AP
The African soccer physique dismissed an attraction by Morocco to have the outcome canceled and Morocco declared the winner due to the Senegalese walk-off.
The sport even strained diplomatic ties between Senegal and Morocco, prompting political officers in each nations to pledge to remain associates and name for calm. In Morocco, rights teams denounced what they referred to as hate speech concentrating on sub-Saharan African residents within the nation.
Senegal Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko mentioned on an investment-related journey to Morocco days after the sport that the response to it ought to be seen as “emotional outbursts produced by fervor and never as political or cultural rifts.”
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