The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr. Patrice Motsepe, has affirmed that Senegal retains the right to challenge the controversial decision that stripped it of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, stressing that no country will receive preferential treatment.

Dr. Motsepe made the remarks in a video interview published by CAF on Wednesday, addressing the fallout from the disputed AFCON 2025 final between Senegal and Morocco.

“I am informed that Senegal is going to appeal, which is very important. Every one of the 54 nations in Africa has the right to pursue appeals and advance their interests, not only at CAF, but also at the highest body, which is the Court of Arbitration for Sport. We will adhere to and respect the decision taken at that level,” he said.

He acknowledged that the controversy surrounding the final had undermined confidence in African football.

“I have been informed of the ruling by the CAF Appeals Board concerning Morocco’s appeal relating to the AFCON 2025 final, and I previously expressed my deep disappointment with the incidents that occurred during the match.

“What happened undermines the significant progress CAF has made over many years to uphold integrity, respect, ethics, governance, and the credibility of match results,” he added.

Dr. Motsepe described the situation as part of a longstanding credibility challenge within African football, noting that concerns about officiating and governance predate the 2025 final.

“The events at the final are part of broader issues involving suspicion and distrust. This is a legacy challenge. When I became president, one of the major concerns was the impartiality, independence, and respect accorded to referees and match commissioners. Although considerable progress has been made, suspicion persists because of this legacy,” he said.

He added that the controversy had also renewed scrutiny of the independence of CAF’s judicial bodies.

“Another important issue brought to the fore is the independence and credibility of our judicial bodies,” he noted.

Explaining reforms introduced under his leadership, Dr. Motsepe said CAF had adopted a new approach to appointing members of its judicial bodies.

“In selecting members, we followed a different approach from the past by inviting each member association and each of the six CAF zones to nominate respected judges and lawyers,” he said.

He stressed that the credibility of decisions remains central to CAF’s reform agenda.

“It is essential that decisions of our disciplinary and appeals boards command respect and are seen as credible. However, we must continue to address perceptions and concerns about integrity. It remains an ongoing challenge. The disciplinary board reached one decision, while the appeals board arrived at a completely different conclusion.

“A critical principle is that no country in Africa will be treated more favourably than another,” he said.

Dr. Motsepe added that CAF had begun internal reviews following the final, emphasising that public trust would ultimately determine the legitimacy of its decisions.

“We take the events of the final in Morocco during the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2025 very seriously. We have already initiated key steps to address identified shortcomings and implement necessary reforms.

“Ultimately, it is important that ordinary football supporters across all 54 member nations judge our decisions as fair, impartial, and made with integrity,” he said.

CAF overturned the result of the AFCON 2025 final, stripping Senegal of the title and awarding a 3–0 victory to Morocco after upholding an appeal by the Moroccan Football Federation.

The decision followed findings that Senegal breached Article 82 of CAF regulations during the match, resulting in forfeiture.

Senegal had originally won the final 1–0 on 18 January 2026, courtesy of an extra-time goal by Pape Gueye. However, the match was marred by controversy after Senegalese players walked off the pitch for approximately 15 to 20 minutes in protest against a penalty awarded to Morocco.

CAF ruled that the walk-off constituted a regulatory breach, leading to the reversal of the result.

The ruling has sparked widespread debate across the continent, with the Senegalese Football Federation expected to challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.