RABAT, MOROCCO: Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has defended the organisation’s commitment to fairness, insisting no country receives special treatment following the controversial reversal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final result.
The remarks come after CAF’s Appeals Board overturned Senegal’s 1-0 victory over Morocco and instead awarded the title to Morocco, citing Senegal’s temporary walk-off during the match played on January 18 in Rabat.
Motsepe said the differing rulings between CAF’s judicial bodies demonstrate institutional independence. “The independence is reflected in the decisions taken. The Disciplinary Board made one decision, and the Appeals Board took a different position,” Motsepe stated.
The Appeals Board determined that Senegal’s walk-off in protest of a late penalty constituted forfeiture of the match. This overturned an earlier decision by the Disciplinary Board, which had upheld the result while imposing financial penalties on Senegal.
Senegal has since escalated the dispute to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with the country’s government also demanding an independent investigation into the handling of the case.
Motsepe reaffirmed that all CAF member associations have the right to seek legal redress. “Every one of the 54 nations in Africa has a right to pursue their case. We will respect the final decision taken at the highest level,” he said.
The CAF president acknowledged that the controversy had negatively impacted the image of African football, admitting disappointment over the events surrounding the final.
He said CAF is actively implementing reforms aimed at strengthening fairness, transparency, and respect for match officials, while addressing longstanding mistrust within the game. “There has been suspicion for a long time, and we continue to deal with it,” Motsepe noted.
He further revealed that CAF has restructured its judicial processes by appointing experienced judges and legal experts from across the continent to disciplinary and appeals committees to ensure credibility and impartiality.
Motsepe maintained that under his leadership, CAF will uphold equal treatment for all member nations. “The critical factor is that no nation will be treated more favourably than another,” he said.
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