CAF President Patrice Motsepe has defended the controversial decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, insisting the ruling demonstrates the independence of the organisation’s judicial bodies.
His remarks come amid mounting criticism from stakeholders following the Appeals Board’s verdict, which overturned an earlier decision on the tournament outcome.
In a video released on Wednesday, Motsepe described the development as a clear reflection of institutional autonomy within CAF.
“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.
