The President of the Confederation of African Soccer, Patrice Motsepe, has acknowledged the appeals board ruling following the controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations remaining between Senegal nationwide soccer crew and Morocco nationwide soccer crew.
Motsepe expressed sturdy disappointment over the incidents that occurred throughout the remaining, stating that they undermined belief and the progress made in African soccer governance. He highlighted that mistrust in refereeing and decision-making stays a longstanding “legacy concern,” regardless of reforms geared toward bettering integrity and independence.
He confused that CAF has taken steps to make sure its judicial our bodies are composed of revered and impartial professionals, together with judges and attorneys chosen from throughout its member associations and regional zones. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that perceptions of bias and lack of belief nonetheless persist.
In his assertion, he stated:
I’ve been knowledgeable of the ruling by the CAF appeals board in regards to the attraction by Morocco regarding the AFCON Morocco 2025 remaining match. And I beforehand expressed my excessive disappointment with the incidences that befell on the remaining match.
The vital factor is that what occurred undermines the great work CAF has achieved over a few years to make sure integrity, respect, ethics, governance, and credibility of match outcomes.
The occurrences on the remaining expose the suspicion and mistrust we’re nonetheless coping with. It’s a legacy concern that has existed for a few years.
One other vital matter is the independence and respect of our judicial our bodies. We chosen members from throughout Africa—revered judges and attorneys—to make sure selections are seen with integrity.
Nonetheless, we should nonetheless deal with perceptions and issues about integrity. It’s an ongoing concern.
We’re dedicated to making sure that no nation is handled extra favourably than one other. Each nation has the correct to attraction selections, together with on the highest stage.
We take what occurred on the AFCON 2025 remaining very critically and are already implementing measures to handle deficiencies and enhance requirements.
It is vital that soccer supporters throughout all 54 international locations belief that selections are truthful, neutral, and made with integrity.
Watch the official Video of his stament posted by CAF TV on Youtube beneath;
Softfootball gathered that after the match, the Moroccan Soccer Federation filed an attraction, arguing that Senegal ought to forfeit the match for leaving the sector with out authorisation from the referee.
Two months later, CAF confirmed that Morocco’s attraction had been accepted. Because of this, Senegal had been stripped of the title, and Morocco had been awarded a 3–0 victory, formally turning into AFCON 2025 champions.
The choice was primarily based on Articles 82 and 84 of CAF rules, reinforcing CAF’s place on groups leaving the sector of play with out authorisation.
