The President of football mother body in Africa, Confederation of Africa Football (CAF), President Patrice Motsepe has defended the decision by it’s judicial body after ruling to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, after several weeks of ceremony and troop of congratulation messages.
Motsepe despite the ruling being controversial, insist it demonstrates the independence of the Federations judicial bodies.
The Appeals Board overturned the early decision on the tournament outcome yet the President remark, the ruling as right one. This has mounted severe criticism from stakeholders of the game.
In a video intercepted by Ghanasportspage.com on Wednesday, Motsepe described the development as a clear reflection of institutional autonomy within Federation.
“The independence is reflected by the decisions that were taken by the two bodies,” he stated.
“The CAF Disciplinary Board took one decision. The CAF Appeals Board took a totally different decision,” he added.
The controversy stems from a dramatic ruling issued on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, when CAF upheld an appeal by Morocco, effectively overturning Senegal’s victory in the final played in January.
According to the Appeals Board, Senegal breached competition regulations after staging a 17-minute walk-off in protest of a stoppage-time penalty awarded to Morocco.
As a result, the match was awarded to Morocco with a 3-0 scoreline, handing them their first AFCON title in five decades.
Senegal, however, have indicated their intention to challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the coming days, setting the stage for a potential legal battle over one of the most contentious rulings in the competition’s history.
