According to a report by Vanguard Newspapers on March 19, 2026, Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has addressed the controversy surrounding the stripping of Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations 2025 title and confirmed that the West African nation is free to challenge the decision.
Following the ruling that awarded Morocco a 3–0 victory, Motsepe stressed that no country would receive preferential treatment under his leadership, regardless of status or influence.
The controversy stems from the January 18 final, where Senegal had initially secured a 1–0 win after extra time. However, a brief walk-off by Senegalese players in protest of a late penalty decision led to a dramatic reversal.
CAF’s Appeals Committee later ruled that the protest violated tournament regulations, declaring it a forfeiture and awarding the title to Morocco.
In a video interview, Motsepe admitted the situation has harmed the image of African football, acknowledging that longstanding concerns over officiating and trust still persist.
“The occurrences at the final match undermine years of work toward integrity and ethics,” he said, expressing “extreme disappointment” over the incident.
The CAF president also emphasised that Senegal has every right to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), assuring stakeholders that CAF will respect whatever final decision is reached.
Despite the controversy, Motsepe defended the independence of CAF’s judicial bodies, noting that differing rulings between its committees demonstrate that the system remains impartial.
For now, the title remains with Morocco, but the final outcome of the dispute may ultimately be decided in court.
