Two Moroccan starters from the Africa Cup of Nations final are facing possible disciplinary action as African football’s governing bodies continue to examine incidents that overshadowed the showpiece match.
Although the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations has concluded and Senegal have been crowned champions, the aftermath of the final remains under scrutiny.
Meeting in Cairo on Tuesday, the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Disciplinary Committee reviewed a series of incidents that took place during the tense encounter, focusing in particular on the conduct of players on the pitch.
According to reports by Wiw Sport, the committee questioned Morocco internationals Achraf Hakimi and Ismaël Saïbari over actions judged to be unsporting during Senegal’s victory.
Central to the case is an altercation involving the equipment of Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, at a moment when emotions were already running high.
Video footage examined by the disciplinary panel shows Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain full-back, throwing Mendy’s towel into the stands.
The gesture was interpreted as provocative and contributed to a sequence of events that further disrupted the match. Shortly afterwards, Ismaël Saïbari was seen attempting to prevent the towel from being returned to the pitch.
The situation escalated to the point where Senegal substitute goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf entered the field to recover his teammate’s belongings.
These scenes unfolded against a backdrop of refereeing decisions that had already fuelled frustration on both sides. CAF officials consider the actions a potential breach of sporting ethics and are now assessing whether disciplinary sanctions are warranted.
Multi-match suspensions for the two Moroccan players are among the measures being considered, although no final decision has yet been announced.
The disciplinary review does not concern only the defeated finalists. CAF is also examining the conduct of the Senegalese camp during the same match.
The temporary stoppage of play, which followed instructions from coach Pape Thiaw amid a charged atmosphere, has been included in the file. In addition, incidents reported in the stands are under assessment.
As a result, the Senegalese Football Federation and members of the coaching staff could also face administrative or financial penalties, despite the team’s success on the pitch.
CAF’s ongoing review underlines its determination to address behaviour it believes undermines the integrity of its competitions, even after the trophy has been awarded.
