CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe has reaffirmed the Confederation of African Football’s commitment to maintaining and advancing the integrity of the Africa Cup of Nations and all other CAF competitions.
Speaking in the wake of the controversial 2025 AFCON final in Morocco, Motsepe emphasised that CAF is determined to protect the reputation and competitiveness of African football.
The final between Senegal and host nation Morocco, had descended into chaos after a late penalty was awarded to Morocco. Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw instructed his players to walk off in protest, causing a delay of over ten minutes before captain Sadio Mane convinced his teammates to return and complete the match.
The CAF Disciplinary Committee subsequently imposed sanctions on both the Moroccan and Senegalese federations, as well as on players and officials found culpable of breaching regulations.
“I am absolutely determined, and the CAF Executive Committee, along with the presidents of our 54 Member Associations, share this commitment to uphold the integrity, reputation and global competitiveness of African Football and CAF Competitions,” Motsepe said in a media statement.
The CAF President acknowledged the challenges posed by high-profile incidents like the AFCON 2025 final but stressed that accountability and fairness remain central to the organisation’s mission.
“We will continue to take decisive steps to ensure that all CAF competitions reflect the highest standards of professionalism and integrity,” he added.
With these assurances, CAF aims to restore confidence in African football and demonstrate that even in the most controversial moments, the organisation is committed to preserving the spirit and credibility of the game across the continent.
