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The President of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, has said Senegal remains free to challenge the decision that stripped it of the 2025 AFCON title, insisting that no country will receive special treatment in the process.
Motsepe, in a video released by CAF, said the right to appeal is fundamental and extends beyond the continent if necessary. “And I’m told that Senegal is going to appeal, which is very important.
Every one of the 54 nations in Africa has a right to pursue their appeals… and we will respect whatever decision is taken at the highest level,” he said.
He admitted that the controversy surrounding the final has raised fresh concerns about the credibility of African football, noting that the incident has undermined years of effort to build trust in the game.
“The important thing… is it undermines the good work that CAF has done over many years to ensure integrity, respect and credibility,” Motsepe added.
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CAF had overturned Senegal’s 1–0 victory and awarded Morocco a 3–0 win after ruling that Senegal breached competition regulations by walking off the pitch during the final in protest of a penalty decision.
Motsepe described the situation as part of a deeper, long-standing issue around officiating and governance in African football. “There continues to be suspicion because it’s a legacy issue,” he said, even as he pointed to ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening refereeing standards and disciplinary processes.
He also stressed that fairness remains central to CAF’s decisions. “Not a single country in Africa will be treated in a manner that is more preferential or more favourable than any other country,” he said.
With Senegal expected to head to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the dispute is far from over, as CAF begins internal reviews to address the gaps exposed by one of the most controversial finals in recent AFCON history.
