By: Belinda Nketia
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) president, Dr. Patrice Motsepe has given an address of the organisation’s judicial process after Senegal were stripped of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title. He indicated that no country on the continent will receive preferential treatment.
Dr. Patrice Motsepe spoke in a video released on Tuesday, 18th March 2026, a day after CAF’s Appeal Board overturned the result of the final and awarded Morocco a 3-0 win. The ruling reversed Senegal’s on-field victory and reopened scrutiny over how African football’s governing body handled one of the tournament’s biggest controversies.
Addressing the fallout, Dr. Motsepe said CAF’s disciplinary and appeal bodies must be viewed with “respect and integrity”, while acknowledging the organisation still has work to do to overcome concerns about fairness and trust.
He said the two bodies were made up of some of the continent’s most respected judges and lawyers, selected from across CAF’s 54 member associations, and pointed to their differing rulings as proof that they operate independently.
“The CAF disciplinary board took one decision. The CAF appeals board took a totally different position,” Dr. Motsepe said.
He also revealed Senegal are expected to challenge the verdict, and added that every member association has the right to pursue an appeal through CAF and, if necessary, at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“We will adhere and respect the decision that’s taken at the highest level,” he said.
Dr. Patrice Motsepe said the principle guiding CAF’s response was clear.
“Not a single country in Africa will be treated in a manner that is more preferential or more advantageous or more favourable than any other country on the African continent,” he said.
He also added that CAF was taking the events around the final “very, very seriously” and had already begun work on areas identified as needing improvement. Dr. Motsepe also said it was important that supporters across Africa see CAF’s judicial bodies, referees, VAR officials and match commissioners as fair, impartial and credible.
The statement came after CAF’s Appeal Board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the AFCON final against Morocco under Articles 82 and 84 of the competition regulations. The board set aside an earlier disciplinary decision and recorded the match as a 3-0 victory for Morocco.
The case stems from the chaotic final in Rabat, where Senegal briefly walked off in protest after a late VAR-awarded penalty to Morocco. Senegal eventually returned to the pitch and won 1-0 after extra time, but the appeals ruling has now handed the title to Morocco instead. Senegal are expected to take the matter to CAS.
