CAF slams Egypt with $5,000 fine over media breach at AFCON

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has fined the Egypt national football team $5,000 for failing to meet mandatory media obligations after their opening match against Zimbabwe at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

In a statement issued on Tuesday, CAF said the seven-time African champions breached competition regulations when players and members of the technical crew failed to engage with journalists in the designated mixed zone after the final whistle. The football body noted that the entire Egyptian delegation walked past reporters without granting any post-match interviews.

CAF stressed that its rules require teams to make players and officials available to the media after matches, describing the obligation as vital to transparency and the promotion of the AFCON tournament.

Beyond the financial penalty, CAF issued a formal warning to Egypt, cautioning that any further violation of media regulations would attract stiffer sanctions. The governing body specifically pointed to Egypt’s Matchday Two clash against South Africa, stating that compliance with media protocols would be closely monitored.

CAF added that it would not hesitate to impose harsher measures if Egypt fails again to fulfil its responsibilities, underscoring that media access remains a non-negotiable element of the competition framework.

Egypt are scheduled to face South Africa next, with attention now on both their on-field performance and adherence to tournament rules. The incident has sparked mixed reactions online, with some fans criticising Egypt’s conduct, while others argue that the sanction was too lenient.