Marrakech – CAF president Patrice Motsepe broke his silence Wednesday following the appeal jury’s decision to declare Morocco champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on a 3-0 forfeit against Senegal, defending the independence of the confederation’s judicial bodies and vowing that no federation would receive favorable treatment.
In a video statement published on CAF’s official YouTube channel, the South African businessman addressed the fallout from one of the most contentious decisions in African football history. He did not comment directly on the merits of the verdict. Instead, he laid out a pointed defense of the institution he leads.
“The independence of the CAF’s judicial organs is clearly reflected in the different decisions taken by the disciplinary commission and the appeals commission,” Motsepe said. The two bodies had reached opposite conclusions on the same case, the CAF chief recalled, presenting this as evidence of genuine autonomy rather than institutional dysfunction.
Motsepe described the appeals commission as composed of “some of the most respected jurists and magistrates on the continent,” selected through a process involving all 54 member associations. He stressed that the body, chaired by a judge, operates independently from the confederation itself.
Addressing the incidents that marred the January 18 final in Rabat, Motsepe acknowledged the gravity of events and damage done to CAF’s image. “What happened during that match compromises the considerable work accomplished by CAF over many years to guarantee the integrity, respect, ethics, good governance, and credibility of our football results,” he argued.
He also conceded that the episode exposed lingering trust issues, stressing: “The events and incidents during the final highlight the work that remains to be done in the face of suspicion and lack of confidence. This is a legacy of the past.”
The CAF president confirmed that corrective measures had already been taken to address the failures observed during the final, with the stated goal of reinforcing public confidence in disciplinary and refereeing decisions, including the use of VAR.
All African countries are equal
On the question of recourse, Motsepe was direct. “Each of the 54 African nations has the right to pursue the necessary appeals to defend its interests,” he said, acknowledging Senegal’s announced intention to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. “We will comply with and respect the decision taken at the highest level.”
He then delivered what amounted to the central message of his intervention. “A fundamental principle is that no African country will be treated in a more privileged, more advantageous, or more favorable manner than another country on the African continent,” Motsepe declared.
The ruling itself, handed down Tuesday by the CAF Appeal Jury, annulled the earlier disciplinary commission decision and declared Senegal forfeit under Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations. The match was officially recorded as a 3-0 victory for Morocco.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) welcomed the verdict in a separate statement. The FRMF said the decision “goes in the direction of respecting the rules and the stability necessary for the proper conduct of international competitions.”
It stressed that its appeal had never been about contesting sporting performance. “The approach was never intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams, but solely to demand respect for the rules,” the federation stated.
The FRMF also noted that CAF now recognizes that “the rule, known to all and applicable to all, had not been respected.” Looking ahead, the federation said it would turn its attention to upcoming fixtures, including the World Cup and the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for this summer.
Senegal has ten days from the ruling to file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Senegalese federation has already signaled its intention to do so, setting the stage for a protracted legal battle that could extend well beyond the African continent’s governing body.
The decision stands for now, and Morocco is the 2025 African champion. But the final word on this affair may yet come from Lausanne.
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