Motsepe Addresses Fairness After AFCON Controversy

CAF President Patrice Motsepe has stated they are taking decisive steps to address issues affecting fairness, integrity, and impartiality following the controversial ruling in the AFCON 2025 final between Senegal and Morocco.

The explosive decision by the CAF Appeals Board overturned Senegal’s 1-0 victory over hosts Morocco in January, recording the result as a 3-0 win for Morocco after Senegal’s players walked off the pitch in protest over a stoppage-time penalty. 

Senegal’s goal had been disallowed for a foul in the final minutes, and after a 17-minute delay, Brahim Diaz’s Panenka penalty for Morocco was saved by Édouard Mendy. 

Extra time saw Senegal’s Pape Gueye score what was initially the winning goal. However, the Moroccan Football Association successfully appealed, leading CAF to rule that Senegal forfeited the match by abandoning play.

“What happened during the 2025 Total Energies AFCON final, we take very seriously, and we have started with the very important steps to ensure that the areas identified as needing improvement are addressed,” Motsepe said.

“We have very high standards that we set for ourselves. It is important for us that ordinary supporters and spectators in each of the 54 countries in Africa judge in theory, not CAF. 

“But in my judgment, the decisions of our traditional boards are fair, with integrity and impartiality.

“What is important is that our referees, VAR officials, and match commissioners are fair in the decisions they make, with respect and impartiality.”

The former Mamelodi Sundowns president also highlighted that CAF continues to face legacy challenges related to fairness and integrity in its competitions.

“I’ve been informed of the ruling by the CAF Appeal Board concerning the appeal by Morocco relating to the AFCON Morocco 2025 final match,” he stated.

“I previously expressed my extreme disappointment with the incidents that took place in the final match.

“The important thing about what happened in that match is that it undermines the good work that CAF has done over many years to ensure integrity, respect, ethics, and credibility in CAF governance.

“Those incidents at the final match of the AFCON Morocco expose issues that we are still dealing with concerning suspicion, and it is a legacy issue. When I became the president of CAF, the major concerns were the impartiality and the respect of referees and match commissioners.

“A lot of good work has been done, but there continues to be suspicion because it is a legacy issue. It is something that has been happening for many years, and we are dealing with it because it is important.”

With the final decision confirmed and Morocco declared champions, Motsepe concluded by emphasizing CAF’s commitment to ensuring independent and fair decisions without favoring any country.

“Another important matter that these incidents at the final match brought to the fore is the independence and the respect for our traditional bodies,” he added.

“We are choosing the members of our tradition board, and we are following different paths from what has been the case before.

“We invited every member association and the six regional zones in CAF to give us names of respected judges and lawyers because the decisions of the CAF Disciplinary Board and the CAF Appeal Board must be viewed with respect and integrity, and that is very important for us.

“So, if you look at the composition of those boards, there are some respected lawyers and judges on the continent. We must still deal with those perceptions and concerns about integrity, and it is an ongoing issue.

“We are a very clear CAF that we are committed to ensuring that not only in terms of what we do, but because we have implemented best practices with identified judges and lawyers from every region, from every zone, from the 54 countries in Africa to make sure that these are people of integrity.

“The independence is reflected in the decisions that were taken by the two bodies: the CAF Disciplinary Board took one decision, then the CAF Appeal Board took a totally different position.

“I’m told that Senegal is going to appeal, which is very important because everyone from the 54 countries in Africa has a right to pursue appeals and advance issues.

“But also the highest body, which is CAS, we will respect the decision that has been taken at the highest level. A critical factor is that not a single country in Africa will be treated in a manner that is more preferential, advantageous, or favorable than any other country on the African continent.”

Following CAF’s ruling, Senegal has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in pursuit of justice.