Motsepe defends CAF amid AFCON controversy ruling

CAF President Patrice Motsepe has defended the independence of the organization judicial bodies following a controversial decision to overturn the result of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco.

The Confederation of African Football decision came after Senegal initially secured a 1-0 victory over Morocco on 18 January in a final overshadowed by a dramatic interruption.

The match descended into controversy when Senegal players briefly walked off the pitch after Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty while the score was goalless. Following a delay of about 17 minutes, play resumed and Morocco forward Brahim Diaz saw his penalty saved.

Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye later scored the winning goal in extra time, appearing to seal the title. However, the result was subsequently overturned by CAF Appeals Board, which ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match due to the earlier walk-off.

CAF declared the result as a 3-0 win in favour of Morocco, a decision that has sparked debate across African football.

Motsepe cites legacy distrust

Motsepe acknowledged that despite reforms within CAF, suspicion continues to affect how decisions are perceived across the continent.

“When I became president, one of the major concerns was the impartiality, the independence and the respect of referees and match commissioners,” he said. “A lot of good work has been done, but there continues to be suspicion because it is a legacy issue.”

He expressed disappointment over the events surrounding the final, noting that they undermined progress made in strengthening integrity and professionalism in African football.

“I was extremely disappointed with what happened,” he said, adding that the incident revived long-standing concerns about fairness and credibility.

Motsepe said distrust in football governance predates his leadership and cannot be resolved immediately, describing it as a deep-rooted challenge.

Judicial independence defended

The CAF president emphasized that the organization judicial bodies operate independently and are composed of respected legal experts from across Africa.

He pointed to the differing outcomes reached by the Disciplinary Board and the Appeals Board as evidence that the system is functioning without interference.

“If you look at the composition of those bodies, they reflect some of the most respected lawyers and judges on the continent,” he said.

According to Motsepe, the variation in decisions demonstrates that rulings are based on legal reasoning rather than predetermined outcomes.

CAF has also restructured how members of its judicial bodies are selected, allowing nominations from member associations and regional zones to improve credibility and representation.

Senegal to challenge decision

Senegal has indicated it will challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the highest authority for global sports disputes.

Motsepe affirmed that CAF respects the right of any member association to seek further legal action and said the organization will abide by the final outcome.

“Every member association has the right to go to CAS, and we will respect whatever decision is made,” he said.

Motsepe reiterated that fairness remains central to CAF operations, insisting that no country would receive preferential treatment.

“A critical factor is that not a single country in Africa will be treated in a manner that is more favourable than any other,” he said.

He acknowledged that the controversy has highlighted areas requiring improvement and confirmed that CAF is reviewing its processes to prevent similar incidents.

Motsepe stressed that restoring trust among fans remains a priority, noting that the success of reforms will depend on public confidence in the integrity of the game.

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