No Going Back: Motsepe Says CAF Stands Firm on Senegal Decision
CAF president Patrice Motsepe has defended the integrity of the Confederation of African Football’s judicial bodies after Senegal were stripped of their 2025 AFCON crown and Morocco declared champions by the appeal committee.
The decision provoked outrage in Senegal, with FSF secretary general Abdoulaye Sow branding CAF ‘rotten.’ International media also described the ruling as ‘ridiculous.’
In response, Motsepe released a video statement on Wednesday evening, addressing accusations of bias and corruption.
Motsepe insisted CAF’s disciplinary and appeal committees are composed of ‘some of the most respected jurists and magistrates on the continent’ and stressed that independence is reflected in their differing rulings.
‘The CAF Disciplinary Committee has issued a decision. The CAF Appeal Committee took a completely different position,’ he said.
On Senegal’s plan to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Motsepe assured compliance.
‘Each of the 54 African nations has the right to exercise the necessary remedies… And we will comply with and respect the decision that will be taken at the highest level. A key principle is that no African country will be treated in a more privileged, advantageous or favourable way than any other country.’
He also expressed disappointment at Senegal’s conduct in the AFCON final, arguing that claims of injustice over the penalty awarded to Morocco were unfounded.
‘The most important element about what happened in this match is that it compromises the considerable work done by CAF over many years to guarantee integrity, respect, ethics, good governance as well as the credibility of the results of our football matches.’
Motsepe acknowledged that ‘suspicion and lack of trust’ remain a legacy issue in African football, but vowed CAF is committed to impartiality and high standards.
‘It is essential for us that ordinary fans and spectators… consider the decisions of our judicial bodies to be fair, honest and impartial.’
