The President of the Confederation of African Football, Mr Patrice Motsepe, has defended the organisation’s judicial processes following the decision to overturn Senegal’s victory in the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final and award the title to Morocco.
The CAF Appeal Board ruled in favour of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, declaring that Senegal forfeited the January final after their players walked off the pitch during stoppage time in protest.
The protest followed a controversial penalty awarded to Morocco after a VAR review involving Brahim Díaz. Although Senegal later returned to the pitch, saved the penalty, and went on to win 1-0 in extra time, the disciplinary panel deemed their actions a serious breach of regulations.
As a result, the match outcome was nullified, and a 3-0 forfeit was awarded against Senegal, officially declaring Morocco as champions.
Speaking in a video statement released on the body’s YouTube channel on Wednesday, Motsepe addressed the controversy and its broader implications for African football.
“I have been informed of the ruling by the CAF Appeals Board concerning the appeal by Morocco relating to the [AFCON] 2025 final match.”
“I previously expressed my extreme disappointment with the incidences that took place at the final match,” Motsepe said.
He noted that the incident undermines ongoing efforts to strengthen credibility, integrity, and trust within African football competitions.
“The occurrences, what those incidents at the final match of the Senegal-Morocco expose, are the work that we are still dealing with concerning the suspicion and distrust. It’s a legacy issue.
“When I became president, one of the major concerns was the impartiality, the independence and the respect of referees and match commissioners, and a lot of good work has been done, but there’s also that continues to be suspicion because it’s a legacy issue. “It’s something that has been there for many, many years, and we consistently deal with it because that’s critically important,” the CAF boss said.
Motsepe also highlighted CAF’s approach to ensuring independence within its judicial bodies, stating that members are selected from across all 54 member associations and six regional zones to reflect diversity and professionalism.
“If you look at the composition of those bodies, they reflect some of the most respected lawyers and judges on the continent,” he said.
He further acknowledged Senegal’s decision to pursue another appeal, stressing that all member nations have the right to seek justice at higher levels.
“Every one of the 54 nations in Africa has a right to pursue their appeals and their advanced interests, not only at the highest level in Africa, in CAF, but also at the highest body, which is CAF.
“We will adhere to and respect the decision that’s taken at the highest level,” he said.
Reaffirming CAF’s commitment to transparency and fairness, Motsepe concluded:
“It is important for us that ordinary football supporters and spectators in every one of the 54 countries in Africa… regard the decisions of our judicial bodies as fair, with integrity and impartiality.
What is equally important is that they regard our referees, our VAR operators, and our match commissioners as people who are fair and just,” he concluded.
The ruling has sparked widespread reactions, with Senegal’s football federation describing the decision as a “travesty” and confirming plans to challenge it at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The decision marks a rare moment in football history, where the result of a major final was overturned due to actions taken during the match.
