CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe has publicly backed the sanctions imposed by the confederation’s disciplinary bodies following incidents at the Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco, while announcing a review of key regulations aimed at strengthening governance and accountability.
The Confederation of African Football confirmed this week that disciplinary measures had been issued after what it described as unacceptable scenes during the AFCON 2025 final between Senegal and Morocco.
Shortly after the rulings were made public, Dr Motsepe issued a statement endorsing the decisions and underlining his determination to protect the credibility of African football.
Speaking on Friday, the CAF president said he was deeply disappointed by events surrounding the final, stressing that they ran counter to the values the organisation seeks to uphold.
He reiterated his commitment to safeguarding the integrity, reputation and global standing of CAF competitions, describing this as a responsibility shared by the confederation and its 54 member associations.
Dr Motsepe confirmed that he fully respected the conclusions reached by CAF’s judicial bodies and would comply strictly with their decisions.
He also announced that an extraordinary meeting of the CAF Executive Committee, known as COMEX, would be convened to assess existing regulations, including the Disciplinary Code.
According to the CAF president, the purpose of the review is to ensure that disciplinary organs are properly empowered to impose sanctions that are both appropriate and dissuasive in cases of serious misconduct.
He indicated that the scope of the review would cover breaches of CAF statutes, regulations and disciplinary provisions, as well as behaviour that damages the image and competitiveness of African football.
The developments suggest that the disciplinary process linked to the AFCON 2025 final may continue to have wider implications for the governance of the game on the continent.
CAF officials believe the episode highlights the need for clearer frameworks and stronger enforcement mechanisms to deter future incidents.
In his statement, Dr Motsepe also pointed to reforms already undertaken in recent years, particularly in refereeing and match officiating.
He said CAF had invested significantly in improving the quality, independence and professionalism of referees, VAR operators and match commissioners, and pledged further financial and technical support to raise standards to the highest international level.
He added that ensuring the impartiality and independence of CAF’s Referees Committee had been among his first priorities upon taking office, arguing that trust in officiating remains essential to the credibility of competitions.
Dr Motsepe expressed confidence that the measures under review would reinforce African football’s standing globally, insisting that CAF competitions must continue to be respected and admired.
The statement by Dr Patrice Motsepe
“I am absolutely determined, as are the CAF Executive Committee (COMEX) and the Presidents of the CAF Member Associations, representing 54 African countries, to preserve and strengthen the integrity, reputation, and global competitiveness of African football and CAF competitions. I was deeply disappointed by the unacceptable incidents that occurred during the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025.
I have taken note of the decision rendered by the CAF Disciplinary Committee, announced on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, and I fully respect all the decisions of our judicial bodies, to which I will strictly comply.
I have convened a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee (COMEX), the highest decision-making body of CAF outside of the Annual General Meeting, to review CAF regulations, including the Disciplinary Code.
This review aims to ensure that CAF’s judicial bodies have sufficient powers to impose appropriate and dissuasive sanctions in cases of serious breaches of the CAF Statutes, Regulations, and Disciplinary Code, as well as for any conduct that seriously damages the reputation, integrity, respect, and global competitiveness of African football and CAF competitions.
In recent years, we have significantly improved the quality, integrity, independence, skills, and expertise of African referees, VAR operators, and match commissioners.
We are committed to allocating additional financial resources and enhanced technical expertise to ensure that the quality, integrity, impartiality, skills, and expertise of African referees, VAR operators, and match commissioners are comparable to those of the best in the world.
One of the first decisions I made upon assuming the CAF Presidency was to ensure the independence and impartiality of the CAF Referees Committee, composed of members nominated by the 54 CAF Member Associations, as well as the most qualified and respected referees on the continent.
It is essential that African referees, VAR operators, and match commissioners are perceived, respected, and recognized as impartial, fair, and of world-class caliber.
I am convinced that with the additional reforms and far-reaching measures we are putting in place, African football and CAF competitions will continue to be respected, admired, and among the best in the world.”
OFFICIAL STATEMENT: CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe emphasises CAF’s uncompromising determination to maintain and advance the integrity, reputation and global competitiveness of African Football and CAF Competitions.
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