CAF president calls for calm and confidence in football governance after a disputed Appeals Board decision shakes the continent.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has called for trust and patience following growing controversy over the CAF Appeals Board ruling on the AFCON 2025 final.
The Appeals Board recently overturned an earlier Disciplinary Committee decision, awarding the final outcome to Morocco—triggering heated debate across African football circles.
Motsepe said he was deeply disappointed by the development, warning that the controversy risks undermining years of progress made in strengthening integrity, transparency, and credibility in African football.
He noted that the incident has reopened longstanding concerns about trust in football governance, even as CAF continues reforms aimed at improving fairness and accountability.
The CAF boss, however, defended the independence of the federation’s judicial bodies, stressing that they are made up of respected legal experts and operate without interference.
He added that differing rulings from CAF committees reflect their independence within the system, not inconsistency.
With appeals expected to continue—reportedly including action at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)—Motsepe said CAF will fully respect whatever final decision emerges.
He reaffirmed that no country will be given preferential treatment, insisting that fairness and equality remain central to CAF competitions.
Motsepe also said measures are already being implemented to address weaknesses exposed by the controversy and prevent a repeat of similar incidents.
Ultimately, he stressed that restoring public confidence in CAF decisions and refereeing standards remains a top priority for his administration.
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