Patrice Motsepe, the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has defended the integrity of the organization’s judicial processes following the highly controversial decision to award Morocco the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
This ruling came after Senegal was deemed to have forfeited the final, overturning their on-field 1–0 victory.
Expressing his personal frustration, Motsepe stated he was “extremely disappointed” by the events surrounding the final.
He noted: “The important thing about what happened in that final match is that it undermines the good work that CAF has done over many years to ensure integrity, respect, ethics, governance, as well as the credibility of the results of our football matches.”
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The CAF Appeal Board invoked Article 84 to declare a 3–0 win for Morocco, citing a walk-off by Senegalese players following a VAR-awarded penalty.
This sparked a fierce backlash from the Senegalese government, which labeled the verdict “grossly illegal and profoundly unjust” and called for an international corruption probe. Senegal intends to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Addressing these tensions, Motsepe admitted that “suspicion and distrust” remain a challenge, describing it as a “legacy issue” he has fought since taking office.
He defended the impartiality of CAF’s legal bodies, saying: “When I became president, one of the major concerns was the impartiality, the independence, and the respect of referees… and there continues to be suspicion because it is a legacy issue.”
He emphasized that these committees are composed of “respected judges and lawyers” from across Africa’s six regional zones and argued that the conflicting rulings between the Disciplinary and Appeal boards prove their independence.
“The disciplinary board took one decision, and the appeals board took a totally different position,” he noted, adding that “it is important that the decisions of our disciplinary board and appeals board are viewed with respect and integrity. These bodies reflect some of the most respected legal minds on the continent.”
Motsepe reaffirmed that “not a single country in Africa will be treated in a manner that is more favourable than another” and welcomed Senegal’s right to appeal further.
He stated: “Every one of the 54 nations in Africa has a right to pursue their appeals… not only at CAF but also at the highest body, which is CAS. We will adhere to and respect whatever decision is taken at that level.”
He concluded by stating that CAF remains committed to high standards, as “it is important that football supporters across Africa regard the decisions of our judicial bodies as fair, with integrity and impartiality.”
