The president of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, has come under criticism following a controversial decision to strip Senegal of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and award a 3–0 victory to the Morocco national football team.
The ruling, delivered by CAF’s appeal board, has triggered a strong backlash from the Senegalese Football Federation and the Senegalese government, both of whom have vowed to challenge the outcome.
Senegal’s federation confirmed it will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, while also calling for an independent international investigation into what it described as suspected corruption within CAF’s structures.
Augustin Senghor, president of the FSF and a CAF executive committee member, criticised the decision and said he expected CAS to overturn what he described as a “dangerous precedent”. Senegal are understood to be relying on provisions within the laws of the game which state that the referee’s decisions regarding match results are final. The team had originally won the final 1–0.
The controversy stems from events during the match, when some Senegal players left the pitch for 15 minutes in protest at a penalty awarded to Morocco. The match resumed after intervention from captain Sadio Mané, and the penalty taken by Brahim Díaz was saved, with the game eventually going into extra time. Pape Gueye scored what had been the winning goal before CAF’s later intervention.
In a series of messages posted publicly, Senghor questioned the legitimacy of the appeals committee’s authority, suggesting it had overstepped its mandate. “Does the appeals committee master the laws of the game validated by Fifa and is therefore superior to this Afcon regulation according to Fifa and Caf statutes? Has it disregarded them? The Cas will censor this dangerous precedent.
“They dared to do this! They dared to substitute themselves for the referee of the final in violation of the laws of the game! Africa and the world will know how to recognise the champions of the Cup of Nations Morocco 2026. Senegal will keep its trophy no matter what. Too bad for African football.”
Senghor also claimed in a message sent to Motsepe that the ruling had been taken during “a secret meeting in Cairo”, raising further concerns about transparency within the organisation.
“Something that nobody can imagine in the other continents or confederations, why should we accept and allow it to happen here in Caf, in Africa because someone is more strong or powerful or a country is more rich and then has more influence to dictate its law against all odds and despite the clear rules of our organisation?
“How long shall we continue to stand and look at this disastrous situation going on in full view of everyone of us and specially of the entire world?”
Senegal’s government echoed those concerns, expressing “profound dismay” at the decision and arguing that it undermined the principles of fairness and sporting integrity. It said CAF’s credibility had been damaged and confirmed that all legal avenues would be pursued to overturn the ruling.
“Senegal unequivocally rejects this unjustified attempt at dispossession,” the government said. “It calls for an independent international investigation into suspected corruption within the Caf’s governing bodies.”
Reaction has also come from within the squad, with Mané criticising the decision on social media. “What happened has gone too far. This is not the football we fight for, not the Africa we believe in. There is too much corruption in our game, and it’s killing the passion of millions of fans across the continent.”
The controversy has extended beyond Senegal, with reports that several CAF executive committee members are considering boycotting an upcoming meeting in protest at Motsepe’s leadership. One unnamed insider was quoted as saying: “He is no longer able to run Caf.”
CAF has been contacted for comment. The organisation had previously imposed fines exceeding $1m and sanctions on both Senegal and Morocco players and officials following the match, but initially allowed the result to stand.
With Senegal now preparing to take the case to CAS, the dispute appears set to move into a legal phase that could determine the final outcome of one of the most contentious finals in the tournament’s history.
