Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe has addressed the independence and autonomy of the CAF Appeals Board, speaking on the vital separation of powers within the organisation.
The CAF leader noted that the independence of both the Appeal and Disciplinary Boards was clearly reflected in the recent, high-stakes decision to strip Senegal of their 2025 AFCON title and declare Morocco winners.
Motsepe also welcomed the intention of the Senegalese Football Federation [FSF] to escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS] in Lausanne, Switzerland. This follows the CAF Appeals Board’s sensational late-Tuesday ruling, which stripped Senegal of their title and awarded a 3–0 forfeit victory to hosts Morocco.
The tournament, hosted by Morocco through December and January, reached a boiling point in a final marred by unprecedented controversy. The flashpoint occurred in second-half stoppage time when Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded the hosts a penalty, prompting the Senegalese players to leave the pitch for 15 minutes in a heated protest.
Though Senegal eventually returned to the field and secured a 1–0 victory courtesy of a Pape Gueye extra-time strike, that result has now been struck from the record.
In a boardroom decision confirmed by CAF on Tuesday—two months after the final whistle—Morocco was declared the official winner. The ruling has sparked widespread global criticism and prompted an immediate response from Senegal, who have confirmed they will seek to overturn the verdict at CAS.
WHAT PATRICE MOTSEPE SAID ABOUT THE CONTROVERSY
In a video posted by CAF on Wednesday, Motsepe says the independent CAF Tribunal Body, which is chaired by a judge, is fair and impartial.
“We will still have to deal with the perceptions and the concerns about the integrity [of CAF],” said Motsepe. “It’s an ongoing issue. We are very clear at CAF that we are committed to ensuring that not only in terms of what we do because we have implemented best practices. We have identified judges and lawyers from every region from the 54 countries in Africa to make sure that they are people who have integrity and a track record.
“Partly, the independence is reflected by the decisions that were taken by the two bodies. The CAF disciplinary board took one decision while the CAF appeals board took a totally different position. I am told that Senegal is going to appeal, which is very important,” he added.
CAF PRESIDENT SAYS THEY WILL ADHERE TO ANY DECISION TAKEN BY CAS
“Every one of the 54 nations in Africa has a right to pursue and advance its interests not only at the highest level in Africa or in CAF. But also the highest body, which is CAS, and we will adhere to and respect the decision that is taken at the highest level.
“A critical factor is that not a single country in Africa will be treated in a manner that is more preferential or more favourable than any other country on the African continent. It is important for us that ordinary football supporters and spectators in every one of the 54 countries in Africa, in their judgment, not in CAF, my judgment, regard the decisions of our judicial bodies as fair with integrity and impartiality.”
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