Motsepe to visit Senegal and Morocco as AFCON dispute awaits CAS ruling

CAF president Patrice Motsepe says he will visit both Senegal and Morocco in a bid to ease tensions following the controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, as the dispute over the title heads to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Speaking after a CAF Executive Committee meeting in Cairo, Motsepe confirmed the planned visits as part of efforts to maintain unity within African football during a period of heightened uncertainty.

“I will visit Senegal and Morocco to reaffirm our commitment to cooperating with all federations on the continent, and we respect each country’s recourse to different levels of litigation,” he said.

Final decision now with CAS

Motsepe reiterated that CAF will not intervene further in the matter, with the final decision on the AFCON champion now in the hands of CAS.

“The final decision regarding the African Cup of Nations champion now rests with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and we have nothing further to add on the matter,” he stressed.

The legal process was triggered after CAF’s Appeals Committee awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory, ruling that Senegal had breached regulations by leaving the pitch during the final.

That decision effectively overturned Senegal’s 1-0 extra-time win on the field, sparking widespread debate across the continent.

CAS has since accepted an appeal lodged by the Senegalese Football Federation, leaving the outcome of the tournament unresolved.

Tensions following controversial final

The final between Senegal and Morocco has become one of the most contentious in AFCON history, with both sides maintaining strong positions.

Motsepe acknowledged that the events surrounding the match had accelerated decision-making within CAF.

“The events that took place during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final accelerated the decision-making process,” he said.

The fallout has extended beyond football, with strong reactions from officials, players and supporters in both countries.

Morocco’s role in CAF competitions

Motsepe also highlighted Morocco’s continued importance in hosting CAF tournaments, confirming that the country will stage the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations as well as the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

“Morocco sometimes steps forward alone to host a number of championships,” he said, praising the country’s infrastructure and organisational capacity.

Balancing diplomacy and governance

The planned visits to Senegal and Morocco underline CAF’s attempt to balance legal processes with diplomatic engagement, as it seeks to preserve relationships across its member associations.

With the CAS ruling still pending, the focus now shifts to the outcome of the legal proceedings, which will determine the rightful champions of the 2025 AFCON.

Until then, CAF’s leadership appears intent on calming tensions while reinforcing its commitment to fairness and due process.

For African football, the episode represents a defining moment — one that will test both its governance structures and its ability to maintain unity in the face of controversy.