CAF President Patrice Motsepe has broken his silence following the controversial decision by the Confederation of African Football Appeals Committee to strip Senegal of their Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to Morocco, emphasizing the need to protect integrity and restore trust in African football.
In a strong six-minute video statement, Motsepe admitted his “extreme disappointment” over the incidents that occurred during the final, noting that they had undermined years of work by CAF to promote ethical governance, credibility, and fairness in its competitions.
Senegal, during the final in Rabat on January 18, walked off momentarily after Morocco were awarded a penalty before returning to win the match thanks to Papa Gueye’s strike in extra-time.
He stressed that the controversy has exposed long-standing concerns around trust and suspicion within African football, describing them as “legacy issues” that predate his tenure.
Since assuming office, Motsepe said one of his key priorities has been to ensure impartiality, independence, and respect for referees and match officials.
“Much progress has been made,” Motsepe noted, “but there continues to be suspicion, and it is something that has been there for many years and we continue to deal with it.”
The CAF president pointed out that the incidents surrounding the final had also cast a spotlight on the independence of CAF’s judicial bodies.
The South African revealed that, in a bid to strengthen credibility, CAF adopted a new approach in selecting members of its disciplinary and appeals committees—seeking nominations of respected judges and legal experts from all six African zones.
According to Motsepe, these bodies are composed of some of the continent’s most distinguished legal minds, chosen specifically to ensure that decisions are respected and viewed as fair and impartial. However, he acknowledged that perceptions around integrity remain a challenge despite these reforms.
Motsepe also addressed the differing rulings between CAF’s disciplinary board and appeals committee, adding that he resepects Senegal’s decision to take the matter further.
“Every nation in Africa has a right to appeal,” he said, adding that the case could be escalated to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. “We will respect the decision taken at the highest level.”
He was firm in asserting that CAF remains committed to fairness, insisting that no country will receive preferential treatment over another under his leadership.
“The critical factor is that not any single nation in Africa will be treated in a favourable manner than any other,” Motsepe said.
Motsepe concluded by assuring stakeholders that CAF has already begun implementing corrective measures to address the shortcomings exposed by the final. He reiterated the organization’s commitment to maintaining high standards and restoring confidence among supporters across all 54 member associations.
“It is important for every ordinary supporter to regard the decisions of our judicial bodies as fair, with integrity and impartiality,” he said, while also calling for continued trust in referees, VAR officials, and match commissioners to uphold the credibility of the game.