The President of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, hinted today, Friday, at bringing about reforms in the continental football body, against the backdrop of the unfortunate events witnessed in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, broke his silence and issued… Official statementYesterday evening, Friday, he touched on everything that happened during the past period, stressing the determination of his body to preserve the integrity and reputation of African football and its development.
Motsepe said in his statement: “I, as well as the CAF Executive Committee, along with the heads of the CAF member federations, who represent 54 African countries, are fully determined to maintain and develop the integrity, reputation and global competitiveness of African football and CAF competitions.”
He added: “I am deeply disappointed by the unacceptable events that occurred at the 2025 African Cup finals. I have taken note of the decision of the CAF Disciplinary Committee, which was announced on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, and I respect and will abide by every decision issued by the CAF judicial bodies.”
Motsepe continued in his statement: “I have called for a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee, the highest decision-making body in CAF, outside the CAF Annual Ordinary General Assembly, in order to review the CAF regulations, including the Disciplinary Code, to ensure that the CAF judicial bodies have the necessary powers to impose appropriate and dissuasive sanctions on serious violations of the CAF Statutes, Regulations and Disciplinary Code, and on behaviors and actions that undermine or seriously harm the CAF.” Dangerous to the reputation, integrity, respect and global competitiveness of African football and the CAF competitions.
Motsepe praises his achievements
He explained: “Over the past few years, we have significantly improved the quality, integrity, independence, skills and experience of African referees, VAR operators, and match observers. We are determined to allocate additional financial resources and specialized technical expertise to ensure that the quality, integrity, impartiality, skills and experience of African referees, VAR operators, and match observers are at the level of the best in the world. It was among the first changes I introduced when assuming the presidency.” “CAF”, ensuring that the “CAF” Referees Committee is independent and impartial, and is composed of members nominated by the 54 member associations of “CAF”, in addition to the best qualified and respected referees in Africa. It is very important that African referees, VAR operators and match observers are seen, respected and recognized, as impartial, fair and at a global level.
The CAF President concluded: “I am confident that with the additional changes and broad measures that we are introducing, African football and CAF competitions will continue to command respect and admiration, and be among the best in the world.”
Early yesterday, Thursday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced… Penalties Signed by the Senegalese and Moroccan federations due to the events of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, which took place on January 18 in the Moroccan capital, Rabat.
The match included a stoppage and an attempt to withdraw by the Senegal national team at the end of the match’s regular time due to the award of a penalty kick to Morocco, which was missed by its player, Ibrahim Diaz.
The CAF Disciplinary Committee issued major penalties to Senegal, Morocco, a number of players from both teams, and the Senegal coach due to violating the Confederation of African Football’s disciplinary code of conduct.
As for the Senegal national team, coach Pape Thiaw was punished by suspending 5 official matches, due to unsportsmanlike behavior that violates the rules of fair play and integrity. He was also punished with a fine of 100,000 US dollars.
“CAF” punished Morocco!
The player, Elimane Cheikh Ndiaye, was suspended for two matches for his unsportsmanlike behavior, and the same was applied to Ismaila Sarr for his unsportsmanlike behavior towards the referee.
The Senegalese Football Association was fined 600,000 US dollars, half of which was for the misconduct of its players and technical staff and the other half for the misconduct of its fans.
An additional fine of 15,000 was imposed on Senegal due to misconduct, which included 5 of its players receiving yellow cards, bringing the total to 615,000.
As for the Moroccan national team, its player, Ismail Sabiri, was suspended for 3 matches for misconduct and fined 100,000 US dollars.
Achraf Hakimi was suspended for two matches, including one suspended for unsportsmanlike behaviour.
Morocco was fined 315,000 US dollars, 200 of which were for the misconduct of the ball collectors on the field during the match and 100 for the misconduct of the players.
The misconduct of the Moroccan players included storming the VAR review area and obstructing the referee’s work, which represents a violation of the principles of fair play.
As for the last 15,000, it came from the use of laser beams by Moroccan national team fans during the match.
By adding Sabiri’s fine to the 315,000, the total will become 415, in addition to the 615 imposed on Senegal. The total fines are one million and 30 thousand dollars.
CAF rejected the Royal Moroccan Football Federation’s protest regarding Senegal’s violations of Articles 82 and 84 of the African Cup of Nations regulations. Through which he was seeking to replay the final match, which the “Ternega Lions” team won with a score of 1-0 after resorting to extra time.
The final session of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which took place from December 21 to January 18, witnessed many travesties and scandals that seemed to facilitate the task of the organizing country in winning the continental title after half a century of waiting. However, the crown finally came to the Senegal national team after it won the final match over its host with a score of 1-0 in a confrontation that extended into the extra half and was known for controversial refereeing decisions.
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