Morocco national team players Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari have been summoned to appear before the CAF Disciplinary Committee to provide explanations and defend themselves regarding incidents that occurred during the AFCON 2025 final.
The incidents began when both players, at different moments, were seen removing the towel of Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy near the goal and throwing it into the crowd, causing widespread uproar and intense debate among fans and media.
The CAF Disciplinary Committee has launched a thorough investigation to establish the facts and determine appropriate legal and disciplinary measures. A decision from the committee is expected within the next 48 hours and could have implications not only for the players involved but also for standards of discipline, accountability, and the broader future of African football.
Fans and football stakeholders are eagerly awaiting the outcome, with many emphasizing the importance of a fair ruling that upholds accountability and discipline in international matches.
The result is expected to serve as a significant precedent for all international players, signaling that inappropriate or unsporting behavior on the field will not be tolerated.
CAF is also expected to take action regarding other incidents that affected the entire match, including Senegal initially walking off the pitch after Morocco was awarded a controversial penalty, before returning to complete the game, which Morocco won 1–0 to claim the AFCON 2025 title.
