Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has strongly condemned the disorder that marred the recent 2025 Africa Cup of Nation tournament in Morocco.
The final, held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium saw Senegal players walked off the pitch for about 17 minutes in protest against a penalty awarded to the hosts.
The Teranga Lions returned to resume the match and went on to win the title after extra time after Sadio Mane’s intervention. Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal after Brahim DÃaz missed the penalty that had triggered the protest.
At a press briefing on Friday in Tanzania, Motsepe expressed his disappointment following the walk-off incident that marred the final last month.
“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.
Motsepe assured fans and stakeholders that CAF would conduct a thorough investigation to identify the causes of the disruption and hold accountable those responsible. “We owe it to the players, the fans, and the continent to ensure that such incidents never happen again. CAF will take decisive action to protect the prestige of African football,” he added.
The president also called on host nations and local organizers to improve their planning, security measures, and crowd management for future tournaments. He emphasized that AFCON should remain a showcase of talent, sportsmanship, and unity for the continent.
The Continental football governing body (CAF) has indicated that detailed reports from match officials, security personnel, and organizers are being reviewed to implement lessons for upcoming events, including AFCON 2027, which is set to take place in East Africa.
Meanwhile, Motsepe affirms he would work tirelessly to restore confidence among fans and participants, ensuring that African football tournaments are safe, orderly, and celebrated for the right reasons.
