President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, has stated that the organisation will fully comply with the verdict of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding Senegal’s appeal over the controversial Africa Cup of Nations final.
Speaking at a press conference in Cairo on Sunday, Motsepe emphasised that CAF would abide by the outcome of the legal process, regardless of personal views.
“I will respect and implement the CAS decision. My personal opinion regarding the matter is irrelevant,” he said following a meeting of CAF executives.
The dispute stems from last month’s AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco in Rabat. Senegal had initially secured a 1-0 victory after extra time, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal.
The match, however, was marred by controversy after Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty. Senegal’s players, along with head coach Pape Thiaw and his technical crew, briefly walked off the pitch in protest. Play later resumed, and Brahim Diaz failed to convert the penalty before Senegal went on to win.
Although a CAF disciplinary committee sanctioned individuals from both sides, it upheld the original result. Morocco subsequently appealed the decision, leading CAF’s appeals body to overturn the outcome and award a 3-0 victory to Morocco.
Motsepe clarified that CAF’s appeals panel operates independently, comprising qualified judges and legal experts, and reiterated the organisation’s commitment to due process.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, Senegal publicly celebrated their initial triumph by parading the AFCON trophy during an international friendly against Peru in Paris on Saturday.
In a bid to ease tensions, Motsepe also revealed plans to visit both Senegal and Morocco, stressing the importance of unity and collaboration in advancing African football.
CAF, in an official statement, acknowledged shortcomings exposed by the final and announced plans to revise its statutes and regulations. The reforms are aimed at strengthening confidence in refereeing, VAR operations, and the organisation’s judicial processes, while preventing a recurrence of such incidents.
In a separate development, Motsepe confirmed the appointment of Samson Adamu as caretaker general secretary of CAF. He will replace Veron Mosengo-Omba, who is stepping down after reaching the organisation’s mandatory retirement age of 66.
Mosengo-Omba, a former FIFA official from the Democratic Republic of Congo, is expected to formally exit the role in the coming weeks.
CAF President Motsepe to Honour CAS Ruling on Senegal AFCON Appeal
