Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football, reaffirmed that all African nations have the right to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, stressing that no country receives preferential treatment.
His remarks come after CAF’s appeals committee ruled to strip Senegal of its Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to hosts Morocco following a dispute over the final.
In a video statement released by CAF, Motsepe said Senegal’s decision to challenge the ruling was “important,” emphasizing that all 54 member associations have the right to pursue all available legal channels, both within CAF structures and before CAS, sport’s highest judicial body.
“We will accept and respect the decision taken at the highest level,” he said, adding that ensuring equal treatment for all nations is a fundamental principle.
CAF’s appeals committee had ruled, following a protest by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, that Senegal should be considered to have forfeited the final, despite winning 1-0 after extra time on the pitch.
The committee awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory, citing Articles 82 and 84 of AFCON regulations, which stipulate that a team refusing to play or leaving the field before full time is deemed to have lost and can be disqualified.
The Senegalese Football Federation condemned the decision as “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable,” saying it undermines the credibility of African football. It announced plans to file an appeal with CAS in Lausanne as soon as possible.
In a separate statement, the Senegalese government called for an independent international investigation into alleged corruption within CAF.
Motsepe defended the independence and integrity of CAF’s judicial bodies, saying their members were selected through a more inclusive process involving all member associations and regional unions.
“These committees include some of the most respected judges and lawyers on the continent,” he said, while acknowledging that perceptions about integrity must continue to be addressed.
He concluded by saying CAF holds itself to “very high standards,” adding that it is essential for football fans across Africa to view its decisions as fair, impartial and credible.
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