CAF President Motsepe Calls for Unity After AFCON Final Fracas
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Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe said he would welcome an investigation into corruption at the organisation, adding that CAF had nothing to hide after meeting Senegalese officials in Dakar on Wednesday. Senegal’s government last month demanded a probe after the country was stripped of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and the trophy awarded to final opponents Morocco.
The dispute stems from unruly scenes in the January 18 final in Rabat, which Senegal won 1-0 but in which they left the field for several minutes in protest at a late refereeing decision. Motsepe met Senegalese Football Federation officials and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, urging unity after the fallout and saying he would hold similar talks in Morocco.
Motsepe said he would fully cooperate with any corruption investigation and argued that football, like business and politics, must enforce zero tolerance for corruption. He also said African football must set the right example for young people by putting laws in place and implementing them.
He declined to comment on the Senegal-Morocco case itself, saying the matter is now before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Motsepe also rejected any suggestion that Morocco had been treated more favourably in the appeal process, saying no African country would ever be given preferential treatment.
He said he was confident African football would emerge more united from the controversy. The comments come as CAF faces scrutiny over its handling of the final and the broader trust issues surrounding the continent’s football governance.
