CAF president Patrice Motsepe arrives in Dakar following CAN 2025 title controversy

The head of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, landed in Dakar this Wednesday. His trip comes approximately one month after the governing body’s decision to strip Sénégal of its African championship title and award it to Maroc, a move that ignited widespread resentment across the nation.

Is this a visit under high pressure? As previously announced, Patrice Motsepe is in the Sénégal capital today. This follows the administrative decision to declare Maroc the winners of CAN 2025 by default, despite the Lions of Teranga defeating the Atlas Lions 1-0 on the field. This unexpected ruling has caused a wave of fury and disbelief throughout Sénégal.

At the end of March, Patrice Motsepe stated he would travel to both Sénégal and Maroc to emphasize the necessity of collective efforts to advance African football, even as his administration faces heavy scrutiny. He arrived late Tuesday night at Blaise Diagne International Airport, where he was met by Abdoulaye Fall, the president of the Sénégal Football Federation (FSF).

According to an official statement from CAF, the football executive will first visit Gorée Island, a site of profound historical significance regarding the slave trade. Later, he is expected to meet with the Sénégal President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, at the presidential palace. The day will conclude with a press conference scheduled for 5:30 PM local time at a hotel in Dakar.

The Sénégal government demands answers

The timing of this visit is particularly sensitive given the friction caused by CAF‘s choice to overturn the results of the chaotic final held in Rabat last January. During that match, Sénégal players walked off the pitch for fifteen minutes to protest the referee’s decision to grant Maroc a penalty right after a Sénégal goal had been disallowed. Although Brahim Diaz failed to convert the penalty and Sénégal eventually secured a victory in extra time, the outcome was later nullified.

On March 17, the CAF appeals board officially declared Sénégal had forfeited the match, certifying a 3-0 win for Maroc based on articles 82 and 84 of the tournament regulations. After waiting weeks for the formal documentation, the Sénégal Football Federation has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which is currently pending.

The ruling has triggered intense backlash in the West African country. On March 18, the Sénégal government called for an international investigation into allegations of corruption within the upper echelons of the continental football body. In response, Patrice Motsepe has maintained that no country is given preferential treatment, asserting the total independence of CAF‘s disciplinary committees.