Sports 19 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
CAF President Motsepe Acknowledges Deep Trust Crisis in African Football Amid AFCON Title Controversy
CAF President Patrice Motsepe has admitted that African football continues to battle persistent trust issues and integrity concerns, following the decision to award the Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco after stripping it from Senegal. He defended the independent appeal board's ruling while stressing ongoing efforts to address suspicions. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/sports/soccer/caf-president-admits-african-football-struggling-with-trust-issues-5396818
Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe openly addressed the lingering trust problems plaguing African football. This came after CAF’s Appeal Board awarded the Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco, overturning Senegal’s 1-0 victory in the January 18 final held in Rabat.
Senegal had protested a penalty awarded to hosts Morocco by walking off the pitch for 14 minutes at the end of regulation time. They returned and won in extra time, but the Appeal Board ruled the walkout violated tournament rules, upholding Morocco’s protest after the Disciplinary Board initially rejected it.
In a video statement, Motsepe expressed disappointment over the final’s incidents, stating they undermine CAF’s efforts to uphold integrity, ethics, governance, and match credibility. He noted that suspicion and mistrust remain a legacy issue, despite progress on referee impartiality since he took office in 2021.
Motsepe emphasized the independence of CAF’s Disciplinary and Appeal Boards, composed of respected lawyers and judges selected with input from member associations. He urged respect for their decisions and denied any preferential treatment toward Morocco, insisting all 54 African nations are treated equally.
He welcomed Senegal’s planned appeal, affirming CAF’s commitment to fair play and adherence to higher-level rulings. Motsepe reiterated the organization’s dedication to tackling perceptions of compromised integrity.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)