Confederation of African Football, CAF, President Patrice Motsepe met with Moroccan football officials to address the administrative crisis surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, final.
Motsepe confirmed that CAF is preparing comprehensive amendments to its competition regulations and will enforce tougher sanctions to prevent a recurrence of the “irregularities” that marred the January final.
This move follows a controversial ruling by the CAF Appeal Board which stripped Senegal of the title and awarded it to Morocco after Senegalese players briefly left the pitch to protest a late penalty decision.
The CAF President emphasized that the continental body will strictly abide by the upcoming ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS, to definitively settle the dispute between Senegal and Morocco.
Motsepe expressed a commitment to protecting the integrity of the 54 member associations, stating it is the duty of the confederation to respect any decision issued by the court in Lausanne.
“We must await the final ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS. We are following the legal process and it is our duty to protect the integrity and reputation of the 54 member associations. We must respect any decision issued by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to settle the final dispute regarding 2025.”
Senegal has formally appealed the forfeit victory awarded to the host nation, describing the decision as unfair and unprecedented after they had initially won the match 1–0 on the field.
Amid mounting tensions, Motsepe also addressed growing calls for transparency regarding the governance of the tournament.
“It is a huge disappointment, and we are currently preparing comprehensive amendments to the competition’s laws and regulations.” He added that future sanctions will be tougher, designed to safeguard the credibility of African football, enforce compliance, and protect the sport’s reputation.”
According to Leadership News, the CAF chief welcomed independent investigations into any allegations of corruption, asserting a ‘zero tolerance’ policy within the organization.
During his visit, which also included a stop in Dakar to meet with Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Motsepe urged for unity and called on fans to shift their focus toward supporting African teams at the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Despite the boardroom battle, Motsepe praised the organization of the 2025 edition, calling it the most successful in the competition’s history due to its world-class infrastructure.
“Every aspect, the hotels, the stadiums, and every detail, was of the highest standard, so I consider it an exceptionally successful edition.”
Reuters noted that while the tournament achieved record revenues and attendance, the focus remains on legal clarity as the football world awaits the final CAS verdict.
Motsepe concluded his address by warning against misinformation and reiterating that the upcoming regulatory reforms are designed to safeguard the credibility of African football both at home and on the global stage.
Facebook/Adetutu Adetule
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