The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has closed discussions regarding the AFCON 2025 championship, as the matter is now scheduled to be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Speaking to journalists in Cairo, Egypt, CAF President Patrice Motsepe stated that CAF will no longer comment on the issue, instead focusing on respecting the legal procedures handling the case.
“The final match between Senegal and Morocco is not something we need to continue debating…,” said Motsepe, emphasizing that while CAF values the strong emotions surrounding football, it is now important to await CAS’s decision.
Motsepe added that CAS is the highest authority for handling sports competitions and disputes worldwide, and that CAF will honor and implement any ruling issued by the court.
“This matter is already before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)… and we will respect and implement any decision it makes,” Motsepe stated, clearly affirming CAF’s commitment to follow legal procedures.
The controversy began in March when CAF annulled the results of the AFCON 2025 final, changing Senegal’s victory to a 3–0 win for Morocco, after Senegal temporarily walked off the pitch to protest a referee’s penalty decision.
The ruling sparked anger and prompted the Senegal Football Federation to file a case before CAS, claiming CAF’s decision did not follow proper legal procedures.
In an unusual move, Senegal displayed the AFCON trophy during a friendly match in Paris, despite being officially denied the championship, signaling their continued claim to the title.
CAS has officially received the Senegal Football Federation’s appeal and is currently hearing arguments from both sides before issuing a final decision on the AFCON 2025 championship.
Meanwhile, CAF has continued efforts to strengthen integrity and rule enforcement in its competitions, with Motsepe emphasizing that the disciplinary board and CAF appeal committees are composed of respected lawyers and judges from across Africa.
