Gambiaj.com – (CAIRO, Egypt) – Patrice Motsepe has announced plans to visit Senegal in the coming weeks to meet government officials and football authorities following the escalating dispute over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
The president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said the visit is aimed at discussing the controversial decision that stripped Senegal of the 2025 AFCON trophy after an appeal ruling awarded the title to Morocco.
Motsepe disclosed that after Senegal, he will also travel to Morocco as part of efforts to engage stakeholders and help ease tensions arising from the decision.
“We will not allow football to divide our peoples, bringing stress and tensions,” Motsepe said. “On the contrary, football must unite our peoples. CAF and I are determined to ensure that the excellent and historic relations between the people of Senegal and the people of Morocco continue to grow and that these ties are further strengthened.”
Senegal Accuses CAF of Corruption
The visit comes amid mounting diplomatic and sporting tensions after the CAF Appeals Board overturned Senegal’s 1–0 victory in the AFCON 2025 final and awarded the title to Morocco following a controversial 3–0 forfeit linked to protests during the match.
The Senegalese government has strongly rejected the decision, accusing CAF of corruption and calling for an independent international investigation into the ruling.
Authorities in Dakar described the decision as an “unjustified attempt” to strip the country of its title and alleged that the ruling was “grossly illegal” and based on what they called an erroneous interpretation of the competition’s regulations.
Senegal also argued that the move undermines the credibility of CAF, particularly because the confederation had initially distributed prize money and handed the trophy to Senegal before the appeal verdict reversed the outcome.
Motsepe Defends Appeals Process
Motsepe has defended the integrity of CAF’s judicial process, stressing that all 54 member associations have the right to appeal decisions.
He noted that differing outcomes between CAF’s disciplinary and appeals bodies reflect the independence of those institutions rather than interference from the confederation’s leadership.
“I will be going to Senegal in the next few weeks to meet with the football leadership,” Motsepe said, reaffirming his intention to engage directly with stakeholders in the country.
AFCON Expansion Announced
Meanwhile, Motsepe also revealed that the AFCON tournament, which is held every four years, will be expanded from 24 to 28 participating nations starting in 2028.
The expansion, he said, is intended to broaden participation and further develop football across the continent.
The dispute over the 2025 title is currently being appealed by Senegal, raising the prospect that the case could move to international sports arbitration if a resolution is not reached within CAF structures.
Leave a Reply