By Ayomide Otitoju
President of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, has affirmed that Senegal has the right to challenge the decision stripping it of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, stressing that no country will receive preferential treatment.
Speaking in a video interview released by CAF, Motsepe said all 54 member nations have the right to pursue appeals through CAF structures and, if necessary, escalate matters to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
He noted that the controversy surrounding the AFCON 2025 final between Senegal and Morocco had affected confidence in African football, describing the incident as a setback to efforts aimed at strengthening integrity, governance, and credibility in the sport.
Motsepe acknowledged longstanding concerns about officiating and transparency, stating that issues of distrust in African football predate the disputed final and remain a challenge for the governing body.
He also highlighted the importance of maintaining the independence of CAF’s judicial bodies, noting that reforms have been introduced in the selection of disciplinary and appeals panel members to enhance credibility and fairness.
According to him, while CAF remains committed to upholding the integrity of its decisions, it must also address public perceptions and ensure that rulings are widely seen as fair and impartial.
The CAF president emphasised that no nation would be treated more favourably than others, adding that the organisation has commenced internal reviews to address shortcomings exposed by the incident.
The controversy followed CAF’s decision to overturn Senegal’s 1–0 victory in the final and award a 3–0 win to Morocco after upholding an appeal by the Moroccan football federation. The ruling was based on findings that Senegal breached competition regulations after players temporarily walked off the pitch in protest during the match.
Senegal is expected to challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as debate continues across the continent over the implications of the ruling for African football governance.
