- Safiu Kehinde
The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, has opened up on the ruling of the confederation’s Appeal Board which withdrew the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) title from Senegal and awarded it to Morocco.
NPO Reported that the CAF’s Appeal Board had on Tuesday ruled out the judgement of the confederation’s disciplinary board and stripped Senegal of the title over violation of the AFCON regulations during the controversial final of the tournament in January.
The board had cited the Senegalese team’s walk-off protest after the referee awarded a controversial penalty to the host nation Morocco as a violation of the AFCON rules.
CAF Appeal Board ruled that the Teranga Lions’ action implied forfeiture of the match and awarded a3-0 victory to Morocco.
Reacting to the development amid outrage and debate, Motsepe called for trust in the confederation’s decision.
Motsepe made the call on Wednesday while reacting to the decision of the CAF Appeals Board.
The CAF President expressed disappointment over the development, saying the decision had raised serious concerns about the integrity of the final match.
“I have been informed of the Appeals Committee’s decision and remain deeply disappointed by what transpired during that final,” he said.
Motsepe admitted that the incident undermined years of progress in promoting integrity, transparency, and credibility in African football administration.
“What happened in that match challenges the gains we have made in building trust, ethics, and respect in African football,” Motsepe said.
The CAF president described issues of trust and transparency as longstanding challenges, assuring that reforms remain ongoing under his leadership.
“When I assumed office, ensuring impartiality and respect for officials was a priority, and while progress has been made, doubts still linger,” he said.
Motsepe reaffirmed confidence in CAF’s judicial independence, stressing that its committees are made up of respected legal experts across Africa.
“It is crucial that these bodies are seen as fair and independent, reflecting the highest standards of legal integrity on the continent,” he stated.
He pointed to the contrasting decisions of the committees as proof of their operational independence within CAF structures.
“The differing rulings clearly demonstrate that our judicial bodies operate independently and without interference,” he said.
With Senegal reportedly set to appeal, Motsepe said CAF would respect any outcome from the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“Every member association has the right to seek justice, and we will fully respect the final decision, whatever it may be,” he affirmed.
Motsepe reiterated CAF’s commitment to fairness, insisting that no nation would receive preferential treatment in its competitions.
“No country will be favoured; fairness and equality remain the cornerstone of our decisions,” he said.
He added that steps were already being taken to address shortcomings identified from the controversial final.
“We are taking this matter seriously and implementing measures to prevent a recurrence,” Motsepe said.
Motsepe stressed that restoring public confidence in CAF’s decisions and officiating standards remained a top priority.
“Our goal is to ensure that fans across Africa trust that every decision is fair, unbiased, and in the best interest of the game,” he said.