Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has publicly refuted allegations of corruption leveled against him following the CAF Appeals Board's decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, awarding it to Morocco. Motsepe asserted that the decision was made in strict accordance with CAF regulations.
On March 18, 2026, Motsepe defended the Appeals Board's position, insisting that only the tournament rules were applied during the AFCON 2025 final between Senegal and Morocco. As a reminder, on January 18, 2026, Senegalese players left the field in protest of a penalty awarded to Morocco following a contested foul on Brahim Díaz. This action led to Senegal's title being revoked, despite their initial 1-0 victory.
The CAF Appeals Board's decision overturned the initial ruling of the Disciplinary Committee, effectively awarding the victory to Morocco. The Board relied on Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations, deeming the Senegalese team's behavior a serious offense. The match result was officially confirmed as 3-0 in favor of Morocco.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) strongly contested this decision, calling it "unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable". The FSF announced its intention to appeal the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. The Senegalese government also denounced a "manifestly erroneous interpretation of the regulations, leading to a grossly illegal and deeply unjust decision" and called for an international investigation into suspected corruption within CAF.
Patrice Motsepe insisted on the independence of CAF's judicial bodies and denied any favoritism towards Morocco, co-host of the 2030 World Cup. He emphasized that the members of the Disciplinary and Appeals Committees are chosen from names proposed by CAF's 54 member associations, and that they are respected jurists and judges. Motsepe also stated that no African nation will be treated in a more privileged manner than another.
This case has sparked strong reactions and raises questions about the integrity and governance of African football. Observers warn that this decision could set a troubling precedent. The FSF maintains that the decision undermines the integrity of African football and raises serious concerns about governance and fairness in disciplinary procedures at the highest level of continental football.
Pending the outcome of the appeal before CAS, Morocco is declared the winner of AFCON 2025, transforming a sporting disappointment into a legal triumph.
