The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has strongly condemned what it described as unacceptable conduct by some players and officials during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 final between hosts Morocco and Senegal.

In a statement issued on 19 January 2026, CAF said it would not tolerate inappropriate behaviour during matches, particularly actions directed at match officials and organisers.

“CAF strongly condemns any inappropriate behaviour which occurs during matches, especially those targeting the refereeing team or match organisers,” the statement read.

The continental governing body confirmed that it is reviewing all available video footage from the final and will forward its findings to the relevant disciplinary bodies. Appropriate sanctions will be imposed on any individuals found to have breached CAF regulations.

The high profile final, played in Rabat on Sunday night, was overshadowed by disorderly scenes following a series of contentious on field decisions. Tensions reached a peak late in the match when a penalty was awarded to Morocco in stoppage time, prompting Senegal’s players to briefly walk off the pitch in protest.

After several minutes of delay, the match resumed. With the score still goalless at the end of normal time, Senegal eventually secured a 1-0 victory in extra time to lift the trophy.

Although CAF did not name specific individuals in its statement, the strong wording reflects its broader commitment to enforcing discipline and respect within African football. The body stressed that misconduct, whether on or off the pitch, will be met with firm action.

The ongoing review marks the first step in CAF’s disciplinary process. Possible sanctions could include fines, suspensions, or other penalties depending on the outcome of the investigations.

Senegal booked their place in the final of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 with a narrow 1-0 victory over record champions Egypt in a gripping semi-final encounter on Wednesday night in Tangier.

The highly anticipated clash between two African football giants lived up to expectations, with both sides displaying tactical discipline and intensity. Senegal, however, showed greater composure in the crucial moments to edge past an Egyptian team chasing a historic eighth continental title.

The breakthrough came in the 77th minute when captain Sadio Mané produced a moment of brilliance. The forward fired a right-footed effort from outside the penalty area, finding the bottom left corner after a swift attacking move that briefly unsettled Egypt’s defence.

Egypt responded by committing more players forward in search of an equaliser, with Mohamed Salah spearheading the late push. Despite sustained pressure and several probing attacks, the Pharaohs were unable to break down Senegal’s well-drilled defence and confident goalkeeping.

Senegal remained organised and resolute in the closing stages, managing the game with maturity to secure the hard-earned win.

The result rekindles memories of the two nations’ last AFCON meeting in the 2021 final, where Senegal triumphed on penalties to lift their first title. This time, the Teranga Lions settled the contest within regulation time to seal their place in the final.

Senegal will now prepare for Sunday’s final, where they will face either hosts Morocco or Nigeria, who are contesting the second semi-final.

FIFA has unveiled a new ticket pricing category designed to make the 2026 FIFA World Cup more affordable for fans of qualified national teams, as demand for tickets continues to rise worldwide.

The global football body announced the introduction of the Supporter Entry Tier, which will be sold at a fixed price of 60 United States dollars per ticket. The category will be available across all 104 matches of the expanded tournament, including the final, and is aimed at easing the cost burden for supporters travelling to follow their national teams in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

FIFA explained that tickets under this new tier will be reserved exclusively for fans of nations that qualify for the World Cup. The responsibility for allocating and distributing these tickets will rest with the Participating Member Associations, each of which will set its own eligibility rules and application procedures. According to FIFA, the goal is to prioritise loyal supporters with strong ties to their national teams.

Under the revised ticket allocation structure, half of each Participating Member Association’s ticket quota will fall within the lowest price categories. This includes the Supporter Value Tier, which represents 40 per cent of the allocation, and the new Supporter Entry Tier, accounting for 10 per cent. The remaining 50 per cent will be split equally between the Supporter Standard Tier and the Supporter Premier Tier.

FIFA also introduced a relief measure for fans whose teams do not advance beyond the group stage. Supporters who apply for tickets through their national associations and later become ineligible due to team elimination will have administrative fees waived when refunds are issued.

The announcement comes amid record-breaking interest in the 2026 World Cup. FIFA revealed that the ongoing random selection draw sales phase has already received 20 million ticket requests since it opened on Thursday, December 11, 2025. Demand has continued to increase following the publication of the full match schedule, host venues, and kick-off times for the tournament, scheduled to run from Thursday, June 11 to Sunday, July 19, 2026.

The random selection draw application window will remain open until Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 11:00 Eastern Time. FIFA noted that submitting an application earlier does not improve the chances of securing tickets and urged fans to apply and review full ticketing details via the official FIFA website.

FIFA further reiterated its not-for-profit status, stating that revenue generated from the World Cup is reinvested into football development worldwide. The organisation expects to reinvest more than 90 per cent of its planned budget for the 2023 to 2026 cycle into men’s, women’s, and youth football programmes across its 211 member associations.