In an address following the decision to award Morocco the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, CAF President Patrice Motsepe acknowledged the credibility challenges facing African football and reaffirmed the organization's commitment to integrity and transparency. Stressing the need for reform, Motsepe emphasized that CAF will not tolerate preferential treatment and is dedicated to ensuring fair and impartial decision-making across its judicial bodies. DR ‹ › In his first media appearance since the CAF Appeals Committee decided to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to Morocco, Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football, acknowledged the serious challenges such events pose to the credibility of African football. He reiterated CAF's commitment to ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening integrity and transparency across its structures. Motsepe expressed his "deep disappointment" over the incidents that occurred during the match, describing them as a setback to the continental body's long-standing efforts to uphold principles of integrity, respect, ethics, and good governance. The CAF president noted that the controversy surrounding the final highlights persistent issues of "doubt and mistrust," which he described as a deeply rooted legacy requiring comprehensive solutions. He stressed the urgent need to reinforce both the independence and the authority of CAF's judicial bodies, issues brought sharply into focus by recent events. "In selecting members of these judicial bodies, we adopted a different approach from what was previously practiced. We invited all member associations, as well as the six regions within CAF, to submit names of judges and lawyers known for their competence and integrity. This is because it is important that the decisions of the CAF Disciplinary and Appeals Committees are viewed with respect and credibility. When we look at the composition of these bodies, we find they include some of the most respected judges and lawyers on the continent." CAF will not allow preferential treatment Motsepe reaffirmed CAF's determination to address concerns and perceptions surrounding integrity. "We at CAF are clear in our strong commitment to ensuring integrity, not only through our actions, as we have adopted best practices, but also through the selection of judges and lawyers from across the continent's 54 member associations, all of whom have strong professional records and integrity," he said. He also pointed out that the differing rulings issued by CAF's judicial bodies demonstrate their independence, while confirming that the appeals process remains open to all member associations, hinting that Senegal could still take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The CAF president further stressed that the organization will not tolerate any form of preferential treatment of one country over another. He underscored that the events surrounding the 2025 AFCON final are being treated with the utmost seriousness, with concrete steps already underway to address the shortcomings identified. Motsepe concluded by emphasizing that it is essential for football fans across Africa "to assess for themselves, not based on CAF's or my personal view, that the decisions of our judicial bodies are fair and grounded in integrity and impartiality." He added that referees, VAR officials, and match commissioners must be seen as "individuals who are fair and just."
