Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe says African football’s governing body has introduced new regulations and corrective
Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe says African football’s governing body has introduced new regulations and corrective measures following the controversy that overshadowed the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco.
The chaotic final, played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on January 18, 2026, initially saw Senegal defeat Morocco 1-0 after extra time to lift the continental title. However, the result later became the subject of intense dispute after CAF’s Appeals Board stripped Senegal of the trophy and handed it to the hosts.
The controversy erupted after Senegal players walked off the pitch in protest when Morocco were awarded a controversial penalty following a late VAR review during the closing stages of normal time while the game remained goalless.
The incident triggered widespread criticism across the football world, with allegations of poor officiating, crowd disorder and unsporting conduct further damaging the image of African football.
CAF Admits Organisational Failures
Speaking to BBC Sport Africa, Motsepe admitted that the governing body had identified shortcomings surrounding the final and had begun reforms aimed at preventing similar incidents in future tournaments.
“We’ve recognised what the deficiencies were that led to the unfortunate incidents we had in Morocco,” Motsepe said.
“We’ve introduced new laws, new regulations which will ensure that doesn’t happen again.”
The South African football administrator insisted CAF had made significant progress in rebuilding trust in African refereeing and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) systems despite the setback.
“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.
Senegal Challenge Decision At CAS
The fallout from the final has continued months after the tournament, with the Senegalese Football Federation contesting CAF’s ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Senegal described the decision to strip them of the title as a “robbery,” while former West Ham United and Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker labelled the handling of the situation “an embarrassment” during analysis on CBS Sports.
According to Reo-Coker, the controversy exposed African football to ridicule on the global stage and undermined efforts to improve the reputation of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The reputational damage reportedly forced Motsepe to undertake diplomatic visits to both Senegal and Morocco in an attempt to calm tensions and restore confidence in CAF leadership.
Despite the legal dispute, Motsepe said CAF would respect whatever final verdict emerges from CAS.
“Whatever decision comes, we will respect and implement,” he stated.
Referee Appointment Sparks Fresh Debate
The controversy surrounding the final has resurfaced after CAF appointed Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala — who officiated the disputed AFCON final — to handle the first leg of the African Champions League final between Mamelodi Sundowns and AS FAR.
Both clubs reportedly expressed reservations over the appointment, but Motsepe defended the independence of CAF’s referees committee.
According to him, the referees committee conducted a detailed assessment of Ndala’s performance in the AFCON final and concluded that he officiated according to accepted international standards.
“The referees committee is independent. We don’t get involved and should not get involved in identifying who refs which match,” Motsepe explained.
He further stressed the need for continuous development of African referees, insisting many are capable of competing with the best officials globally.
Focus Turns To AFCON 2027 Preparations
Beyond the controversy in Morocco, CAF is also facing pressure over preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Recent CAF inspection reports raised concerns about delays in stadium construction, transport infrastructure and other logistical arrangements in the three East African nations.
However, Motsepe remains confident the tournament will succeed, citing strong support from Presidents William Ruto, Samia Suluhu Hassan and Yoweri Museveni.
“We’ve got people from CAF permanently based in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda working every day on the preparations,” he said.
The 2027 tournament will mark the first AFCON to be hosted by three countries and the competition’s first return to East Africa since Ethiopia staged the tournament in 1976.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s preparations have also been complicated by internal leadership disputes within the Football Kenya Federation, with several executive committee members demanding the resignation of federation president Hussein Mohammed over allegations of financial misconduct.
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