Patrice Motsepe has strongly defended the integrity of the Confederation of African Football Appeals Board following the controversial decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to Morocco.
The AFCON 2025 final, played on January 18, 2026, initially ended with Senegal securing a 1–0 victory on the pitch. However, in a dramatic post-tournament ruling on March 17, CAF’s Appeals Board overturned the result, awarding Morocco a 3–0 forfeit win.
The decision has sparked widespread debate across the continent, with Senegal questioning the credibility of CAF’s judicial processes and calling for an independent investigation into the governing body.
Speaking to CAF media, Motsepe rejected suggestions of wrongdoing, insisting that the Appeals Board operates with full independence and integrity.
“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’s a legacy issue… another important matter that these incidences at the final match brought to the fore is the independence and the respect of our judicial bodies.”
Motsepe further explained that CAF has taken deliberate steps to ensure the credibility of its disciplinary structures by involving member associations in the selection process.
“We invited each member association and each of the six CAF zones to nominate respected judges and lawyers,” he said.
“It is important that the decisions of the CAF disciplinary board and the CAF Appeals Board are viewed with respect and integrity. If you look at the composition of those bodies, they reflect some of the most respected legal minds on the continent.”
Despite this, the CAF president acknowledged that concerns over trust and transparency remain.
“We will still have to deal with perceptions and concerns about integrity,” he added.
Addressing the controversial AFCON final itself, Motsepe admitted the incident had undermined years of progress made by CAF in strengthening governance and credibility.
“I previously expressed my extreme disappointment with the incidences that took place at the final match,” he said.
“What happened undermines the good work CAF has done over many years to ensure integrity, respect, ethics and credibility in our competitions. These incidents exposed the ongoing challenges of suspicion and distrust ; it is a legacy issue we are still dealing with.”
Meanwhile, Senegal have been given 10 days to challenge the ruling. The Senegal Football Federationhas already moved to appeal the decision and is pushing for an independent investigation into CAF, alleging corruption in the handling of the case.
The dispute is expected to escalate further, with a case also heading to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where a final verdict could determine the fate of the 2025 AFCON title.
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