CAN 2025: Motsepe breaks his silence on sanctions and goes off on Senegal and Morocco
admin3 min de lecture
Two weeks after the chaotic final of the 2025 AFCON between Senegal and Morocco in Rabat, CAF president Patrice Motsepe has broken his silence to reaffirm the organization’s commitment to protect and enhance the integrity, reputation, and global competitiveness of African football.
In his statement, he emphasizes:
“I am absolutely determined, just like the CAF Executive Committee (COMEX) and the Presidents of the Member Associations, representing 54 African countries, to preserve and strengthen the integrity, reputation, and global competitiveness of African football and CAF competitions. I was deeply disappointed by the unacceptable incidents that occurred during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations final, Morocco 2025.
I have taken note of the decision made by the CAF Disciplinary Commission, announced on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, and I fully respect all decisions from our judicial bodies, which I will strictly adhere to.
I have called for a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee (COMEX), the highest decision-making body of CAF outside the Annual General Assembly, to review CAF regulations, including the Disciplinary Code. This review aims to ensure that CAF’s judicial bodies have sufficient powers to impose appropriate and deterrent sanctions in cases of serious violations of CAF’s Statutes, Regulations, and Disciplinary Code, as well as any behavior that seriously harms the reputation, integrity, respect, and global competitiveness of African football and CAF competitions.
In recent years, we have significantly improved the quality, integrity, independence, skills, and expertise of African referees, VAR operators, and match commissioners. We are determined to allocate additional financial resources and enhanced technical expertise to ensure that the quality, integrity, impartiality, skills, and expertise of African referees, VAR operators, and match commissioners are on par with the best in the world.”
URGENT 🚨
After the sanctions, Motsepe calls a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee (COMEX), the highest decision-making body of CAF outside the Annual General Assembly, to review CAF regulations, including the Disciplinary Code.… pic.twitter.com/yCq4Qmo4IS
He states that he has acknowledged the decisions of the Disciplinary Commission and insists on his full respect for CAF’s judicial bodies. A meeting of the Executive Committee has been called to review the regulations, including the Disciplinary Code, to ensure that sanctions are appropriate and deterrent in cases of serious violations.
Finally, Patrice Motsepe highlights the progress made in recent years regarding the quality and expertise of African referees, VAR operators, and match commissioners, while announcing additional resources to ensure their level is comparable to that of the best referees in the world.
