Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has stated that the organization is actively addressing the “deficiencies” that led to the chaotic conclusion of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Morocco, aiming to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
Addressing AFCON Final Deficiencies
The 2025 AFCON final, held in Rabat, concluded controversially when Senegal, who had initially celebrated a 1-0 victory in extra time, were stripped of their title by a CAF appeal board in March. The trophy was subsequently awarded to hosts Morocco.
This decision stemmed from Senegal’s walk-off protest after Morocco was awarded a penalty following a VAR review in second-half injury time, with the score tied at 0-0. Further complicating the situation were incidents involving stadium security clashing with fans and an accusation of unsportsmanlike conduct against Morocco for “towelgate,” where players and ballboys allegedly interfered with Senegal’s goalkeeper’s towel.
Motsepe acknowledged these issues, telling BBC Sport Africa, “We’ve done good work in terms of building the confidence and the trust amongst the football community of our referees and of our VAR.” He added, “But there are still these challenges and we’ve recognised what the deficiencies were that led to the unfortunate incidents we had in Morocco.” CAF has reportedly introduced new regulations to prevent similar events.
Reputational Damage and Legal Challenges
Despite Motsepe’s assertions that African football is emerging “stronger than ever before,” the events in Rabat and the subsequent trophy handover have significantly impacted CAF’s image. Pundits, like former West Ham and Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, described the decision to strip Senegal of their title as an “embarrassment” that allowed other football federations to “laugh at CAF.”
The Senegalese Football Federation labelled the ruling a “robbery” and has challenged the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Motsepe acknowledged the ongoing legal process, stating, “We are waiting for the judgement of the Court of Arbitration for Sport and African football is continuing to grow and develop.” He assured that CAF would respect and implement the CAS decision.
Referee Appointment Sparks Debate
Adding to the scrutiny, CAF appointed Jean-Jacques Ndala, the referee from the controversial AFCON final, to officiate the first leg of the African Champions League final. This decision has generated fresh debate, particularly as both participating clubs, Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) and AS FAR (Morocco), reportedly expressed reservations.
Motsepe explained that Ndala’s performance was thoroughly reviewed by the independent referees’ committee following the AFCON final. “The referee’s committee is independent. We don’t get involved and should not get involved in identifying who ref at which match should,” he stated, emphasizing the need to respect the independent body’s decisions.
He also reiterated CAF’s commitment to referee development, noting, “Some of our referees are as good as the best in the world.”
AFCON 2027 Preparations Amidst Challenges
Motsepe also addressed concerns regarding the preparations for the 2027 AFCON, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. A recent CAF inspection report highlighted delays in stadium upgrades and infrastructure projects in all three host nations.
However, the CAF president remained optimistic, assuring the tournament would be “enormously successful.” He cited the strong commitment and support from the presidents of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. CAF has established a permanent presence in each country to work closely with local authorities on preparations for the tournament, scheduled for June 2027.
Preparations in Kenya are further complicated by a governance dispute within the Football Kenya Federation (FKF). Nine executive committee members have called for the resignation of FKF president Hussein Mohammed over alleged financial impropriety, which Mohammed denies, attributing the claims to a coup attempt by rivals.
Motsepe expressed confidence that FIFA and CAF would help resolve the FKF’s internal issues in compliance with their statutes. He noted Kenya’s past sanctions by FIFA for administrative irregularities, including a ban in 2022.
Looking Ahead
The 2027 AFCON will be the first to be hosted by three nations and marks the tournament’s return to East Africa since 1976. As CAF works to rebuild trust following the 2025 final controversy and navigate the logistical and administrative challenges of the upcoming tournament, the focus will be on ensuring a smooth and credible event that enhances the reputation of African football on the global stage.
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