CAF Leader Dismisses Allegations of Wrongdoing from Senegal

On April 8, 2026, Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe addressed the media at a press conference held at the Pullman Hotel in Dakar, nearly a month after CAF's contentious decision to revoke Senegal's AFCON title and confer it upon Morocco.

n

CAF's decision, made on March 17, 2026, had sparked widespread controversy, with the Senegalese government levying accusations of corruption against the organization, which President Motsepe categorically rejected on Thursday.

n

Motsepe, speaking from Morocco, extended an invitation for legal action, stating, "If anybody wants to initiate legal action alleging that there is corruption in CAF I don’t only welcome that, I encourage them," and emphasized the organization's commitment to transparency.

n

He underscored CAF's respect for the judicial and legal sovereignty of its 54 member nations, saying, "There’s nothing to hide," and expressed confidence in the impending decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

n

Motsepe affirmed that CAF would respect and implement the CAS decision, whatever the outcome may be, and noted, "I’m confident that whatever the decision of CAS will say, we will respect it and we will implement it."

n

The controversy surrounding CAF's decision stems from the Cup of Nations final on January 18, in which Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0, but was later overturned by CAF due to regulations regarding the Senegalese team's departure from the field.

n

Following the match, the Senegalese players, head coach Pape Thiaw, and his staff walked off the pitch in Rabat after Morocco was awarded an added-time penalty, which forward Brahim Diaz ultimately missed, leading to CAF recording a 3-0 victory in Morocco's favor.

n

The Senegalese Football Federation has since appealed CAF's decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), further escalating tensions between the parties involved.

n

The Senegalese government has called for an international investigation into suspected corruption within CAF, intensifying the fallout from the organization's decision to strip Senegal of its AFCON title and award it to Morocco.