President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe has affirmed that the chaos that overshadowed the AFCON 2025 final in Morocco will not be repeated in future tournaments.
At a press briefing in Tanzania, Motsepe, who is the leader of Africa football strongly condemned the disorder that marred the recent AFCON final in the North African country, while assuring the world of a smooth operations of future tournament.
“I was extremely disappointed with what happened at the AFCON final in Morocco. That should not happen again and it will not happen again. It was a blemish on a beautiful final we had” he said.
The continental showpiece final, held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium saw the Taranga Lions walked-off the pitch for 17 minutes in protest against a penalty awarded to Morocco in the final.
But Senegal returned for the continuation of the final after Sadio Mane’s intervention, where the Taranga Lions emerged as the champions after extra-time. Midfielder Pape Gueye emerged as the hero after netting a solo to inspire Senegal to victory after Brahim Diaz missed the penalty that had triggered the protest.
Meanwhile, Motsepe has disclosed a thorough investigation is underway, involving match officials, security personnel, and organizers. The aim is to identify the root causes of the disruption and hold those responsible accountable.
Besides, CAF would be reviewing security protocols, crowd management procedures, and overall tournament organization to improve the fan experience and safeguard the event’s reputation.
Despite the chaos, Motsepe emphasized that AFCON remains one of Africa’s most celebrated sporting events.
Additionally, CAF are now working closely with host nations and local football associations to guarantee that the lessons from AFCON 2025 are fully implemented, restoring confidence among fans, players, and stakeholders ahead of upcoming continental competitions.
