Motsepe admits CAF decisions lack credibility, vows reforms
Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has acknowledged that some decisions taken by the confederation’s bodies “do not enjoy credibility” among fans and stakeholders across Africa.
Motsepe made this admission during a press conference in Dakar on Wednesday.
His remarks come weeks after CAF’s Appeals Board controversially stripped Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title.
Senegal had initially secured the trophy on the pitch after defeating Morocco in the final on January 18. However, two months later, CAF overturned the result, declaring Morocco the winners. The ruling cited breaches of Articles 82 and 84 of AFCON regulations after several Senegalese players walked off the pitch in protest of a refereeing decision.
In response, Senegal accused CAF of corruption and filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, seeking to overturn the verdict.
Motsepe admitted that such controversies reflect deeper issues within African football governance.
“It is important for us to address the legacy challenges within CAF,” he said.
“For many years, some decisions by referees, VAR officials, and even judicial bodies — including the Disciplinary and Appeals Boards — have not enjoyed the respect and credibility of spectators and stakeholders.”
He added that CAF has already begun implementing reforms aimed at restoring trust and strengthening integrity across its decision-making processes.
“These changes are necessary to ensure that African football reflects the highest standards of fairness, respect, and credibility in both officiating and judicial rulings,” Motsepe stated.
The CAF president also confirmed that the organisation will respect the final ruling of CAS regarding the disputed AFCON final.