On January 31, 2026, to celebrate the birthday of the president of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), Abdoulaye Fall, the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, sent him a warm, respectful, and appreciative letter. Written from Cairo, this message highlights the esteem the South African leader has for the work done by his Senegalese counterpart, both nationally and continentally.
In his letter, Patrice Motsepe praises the leadership, vision, and constant commitment of Abdoulaye Fall to the development of football. “Your leadership and dedication to football in Senegal and Africa are exceptional. I sincerely thank you for all your contributions,” he writes. The CAF president emphasizes the importance of Fall’s expertise, believing that African football is fortunate to benefit from his experience and rigor. For Motsepe, collaborating with Abdoulaye Fall is both an honor and a source of pride in the mission to advance football on the continent.
Beyond professional considerations, the letter also takes on a personal and kind tone. Patrice Motsepe extends sincere wishes for health, prosperity, and happiness to Abdoulaye Fall and his family. “May God grant you health and prosperity, and may He shower His blessings upon you and your family,” he writes, in a phrase filled with respect, warmth, and human closeness.
However, this gesture of attention did not go unnoticed in the Senegalese sports landscape and sparked some comments. Several observers pointed out that while Patrice Motsepe publicly celebrated the FSF president’s birthday, he has yet to send official congratulations to Senegal for their historic victory at the CAN 2025. This lack of formal recognition for the Lions of Teranga’s sporting achievement, while other nations received similar protocol messages after their successes, raised some questions within sports circles.
For many, Senegal’s victory in this edition of the CAN deserved strong institutional communication from the CAF. This situation highlights a contrast that has not escaped football fans: a strong acknowledgment of the leader, but noticeable silence around the national team’s triumph.
Despite these observations, the message from Patrice Motsepe to Abdoulaye Fall remains primarily a strong testament of recognition for the significant role the FSF president plays in the development of football, both in Senegal and across the continent. It also illustrates the respectful and brotherly relationship that unites the two leaders, committed to the same drive to promote and structure African football.
