President of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, has firmly backed the autonomy and credibility of the organization’s disciplinary structures following mounting criticism over Senegal national football team being stripped of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
In a video statement released on Wednesday, Motsepe emphasized the need to respect decisions taken by CAF’s independent legal bodies, particularly the Disciplinary Board and Appeals Board.
“It is important that the decisions of our Disciplinary Board and Appeals Board are viewed with respect and integrity,” Motsepe stated.
He further stressed that the composition of these panels reflects some of the continent’s most respected legal minds, adding that their independence remains central to maintaining fairness in African football governance.
The controversy stems from the AFCON final in January, where Senegal secured a 1-0 victory over Morocco national football team. The match, however, was overshadowed by a dramatic 17-minute walk-off by Senegal’s players in protest of a late penalty awarded to the hosts.
Following a review, CAF cited breaches of its disciplinary code and took the extraordinary step of overturning the result, sparking widespread debate and criticism across the football community.
Motsepe acknowledged the backlash and admitted that concerns over the integrity of CAF’s decisions persist.
“We will still have to deal with this perception and concerns about the integrity. It’s an ongoing issue,” he conceded.
Despite the controversy, the CAF president maintained that the organization’s disciplinary processes meet the highest legal and ethical standards, insisting that their independence must be protected.
Meanwhile, Senegal has confirmed plans to challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the coming days, setting the stage for a potentially landmark legal battle in African football.
