The African Football Confederation (CAF) has officially imposed disciplinary sanctions on Senegal and Morocco following the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025, which took place in a tense atmosphere marked by several incidents before and after the match.
These decisions quickly sparked reactions in the African football landscape, starting with Algerian journalist and commentator Hafid Derradji. A former figure at BeIN Sports and now with Al Jazeera, he shared his criticisms through a post that gained significant traction on social media.
In his message, Hafid Derradji highlights what he sees as contradictions in the CAF’s disciplinary management. He specifically points out the case of Morocco, which was sanctioned despite being named the tournament’s most fair-play team. “A team receives the fair-play award, then finds itself penalized for not adhering to fair-play rules,” he writes, denouncing a situation he considers paradoxical.
The Algerian commentator also broadens his critique to the organization of the competition’s conclusion, arguing that the governing body of African football failed to manage the final phase “without chaos.” He mentions the heavy financial penalties imposed, which he claims exceed a million dollars in total.
Without directly naming those responsible, Hafid Derradji criticizes what he sees as a failing governance, describing African football as plagued by “irony, contradictions, and absurdity.” This strong media stance reignites the debate on the consistency of disciplinary decisions and, more broadly, on the CAF’s ability to manage major continental competitions smoothly.
