Patrice Motsepe, the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has officially lauded the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON) in Morocco as the most successful edition in the tournament’s history.
Speaking upon his arrival in Rabat from Dakar on Thursday, April 9, 2026, Motsepe highlighted the event’s unprecedented success across organizational standards, global reach, and record-breaking audience engagement. He noted that the competition has firmly demonstrated its ability to rival the world’s most prestigious sporting events, reflecting the significant growth of African football on the global stage. During his remarks, he expressed a deep personal commitment to the Moroccan people and the 54 member associations he represents.
Despite the celebratory tone regarding the tournament’s scale, the CAF President addressed the controversy surrounding the final match held in Rabat on January 18. Motsepe expressed regret over the incidents that transpired and revealed that CAF has already begun amending its statutes and regulations. These reforms are designed to ensure that sanctions for infractions are proportionate and to strengthen the credibility and transparency of the continent’s arbitration systems and judicial bodies. He emphasized that strict adherence to these updated rules is essential to preserving the integrity of African sport moving forward.
The visit occurs as a legal battle unfolds at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has filed an appeal to challenge the CAF decision that stripped Senegal of the title and ratified a 3-0 victory for Morocco. This ruling followed a dispute during the final where the match was forfeited. Senegal is seeking to overturn the decision and be reinstated as the winner, while Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), maintains that Morocco has a legally sound case supported by official reports and video evidence of the Senegalese team’s withdrawal.
Motsepe has maintained a neutral stance on the ongoing litigation, stating that the matter is now in the hands of the CAS. He affirmed that CAF would fully respect and accept the court’s final decision, stressing that his personal views would not interfere with the judicial process. While in Morocco, Motsepe is scheduled to meet with Fouzi Lekjaa and other football representatives before holding a press conference to further discuss the future of the continental game and the necessary reforms to prevent similar disputes in future competitions.
AK/te/fss/abj/APA