Head of African Football Confederation to Travel to Senegal Following U-Turn on Continental Championship Prize

On Wednesday, Patrice Motsepe, the president of the Confederation of African Football, arrived in Dakar, marking a significant visit nearly a month after the organisation's stunning decision to revoke Senegal's AFCON title and bestow it upon Morocco.

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Motsepe had revealed his travel plans at the end of March, indicating that he would visit both Senegal and Morocco to underscore the value of collective effort in fostering the growth of African football, amidst substantial criticism faced by his organisation.

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Later in the day, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye is scheduled to receive Motsepe at the presidential palace, followed by a press conference, as part of the visit that comes at a time of heightened tension for CAF.

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The tension stems from CAF's unexpected decision to overturn Senegal's 1-0 victory over Morocco in the Cup of Nations final, which took place on January 18, with CAF citing field regulations and declaring a 3-0 win in favour of Morocco on March 17.

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The controversy surrounding the match began when Senegalese players, along with head coach Pape Thiaw and his staff, walked off the pitch in Rabat after Morocco was awarded a penalty in added time, which forward Brahim Diaz ultimately missed.

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The Senegalese Football Federation has since appealed CAF's decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, sparking a strong reaction from Senegal, with its government calling for an international investigation into alleged corruption within the institution.

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As the situation unfolded late last month, Motsepe weighed in, stating that he would "respect and implement the CAS decision", while also noting that his personal opinion on the matter was "irrelevant".