CAF president Patrice Motsepe arrives in Senegal as CAN 2025 title controversy escalates
Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), arrived in Dakar this Wednesday, nearly a month after the governing body stripped Senegal of its African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2025 title in favor of Morocco—a decision that sparked widespread outrage across the country.
According to an official CAF statement, Motsepe’s visit will begin with a stop at Gorée Island before a scheduled meeting with Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The CAF president will also hold a press conference at 5:30 PM local time to address several pressing issues facing African football, including the contentious decision to award the CAN 2025 trophy to Morocco.
a mission to calm tensions
Motsepe announced in late March that he would travel to both Senegal and Morocco to emphasize the importance of “working together to advance African football,” following intense criticism of the CAF’s handling of the CAN 2025 title dispute. The decision by the CAF Appeals Committee to revoke Senegal’s victory—earned on the field—has drawn sharp condemnation, prompting the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) to file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with a ruling expected in the coming months.
Senegal demands transparency
The visit comes amid heightened tensions, as the Senegalese government called for an international investigation on March 18, alleging “suspicions of corruption within the CAF’s leadership.” Motsepe has consistently denied any preferential treatment toward specific nations, asserting that the CAF’s disciplinary bodies operate with full independence.
