CAF President Patrice Motsepe has reacted to the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Board to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to Morocco, saying the body remains committed to fairness and integrity.
Speaking after the ruling, Motsepe said he was “extremely disappointed” by what happened during the AFCON final, noting that the incidents “undermine the good work that CAF has done over many, many years.”
The controversial final between Senegal and Morocco had raised concerns about refereeing, match conduct and overall credibility, leading Morocco to file an appeal.
Motsepe said the situation highlights long-standing issues in African football.
“There continues to be suspicion because it’s a legacy issue,” he said, referring to doubts about fairness in football decisions on the continent.
He stressed that CAF has worked hard to improve trust by appointing “respected judges and respected lawyers” from across Africa into its disciplinary and appeals bodies.
According to him, this ensures that decisions are independent and credible.
Motsepe also pointed out that the CAF Disciplinary Board and Appeals Board reached different conclusions, which shows that the system allows for independent judgement.
He confirmed that Senegal plans to challenge the ruling further, adding that “every one of the 54 nations in Africa have a right to pursue their appeals.”
Despite the controversy, Motsepe assured fans that CAF will respect the final outcome and treat all countries equally.
“Not a single country… will be treated in a manner that is more favourable than any other,” he said.
He also noted that CAF has already begun steps to fix the problems identified during the final.
