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The president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, has addressed the controversy regarding the ruling that stripped Senegal of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and awarded it to Morocco.
Speaking on Wednesday, March 18, 2025, Motsepe defended the outcome and pointed to differing decisions within CAF’s judicial bodies as evidence of their autonomy. He said the contrasting rulings highlight the “independence” of the organisation’s legal processes.
The dispute traces back to the AFCON final in Rabat on January 18, 2026. Senegal had initially secured a 1-0 win, but the match was overshadowed by a 14-minute walk-off by their players after a controversial late penalty decision.
Although the CAF Disciplinary Board initially upheld the result and issued fines, the Appeals Board later overturned that decision. It ruled that the walk-off amounted to a forfeit, and under Articles 82 and 84 of CAF regulations, the match was recorded as a 3-0 default victory in favour of hosts Morocco.
🚨 OFFICIAL: CAF PRESIDENT REACTS 🎥
Patrice Motsepe has shared his first reaction following the verdict delivered by CAF’s independent Appeal Committee, which confirmed Morocco as the new AFCON 2025 champions.
In a video statement, the CAF President addressed the outcome,… pic.twitter.com/gAGimYqbs6
— Micky Jnr (@MickyJnr__) March 18, 2026
“The independence [of CAF’s judicial bodies] is reflected in the decisions that were taken by the two bodies,” Motsepe said.
“The CAF Disciplinary Board took one decision. The CAF Appeals Board took a totally different position.”
His remarks appear aimed at distancing CAF’s leadership from the outcome, amid mounting criticism and allegations of bias in favour of Morocco, the tournament host.
The decision has drawn strong reactions, with critics highlighting the rarity of stripping a champion months after the title was awarded, raising concerns about stability within African football governance.
Meanwhile, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has rejected the ruling, describing it as a “sporting injustice,” and has filed an emergency appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland.
