CAF president Patrice Motsepe arrives in Dakar to address 2025 Africa Cup of Nations controversy
Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), is making an official visit to Dakar this Wednesday, nearly a month after the controversial decision to strip Senegal of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title in favor of Morocco
According to an official CAF statement, Motsepe will first visit Gorée Island before meeting with Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. He is scheduled to hold a press conference at 5:30 PM local time to address several sensitive issues affecting African football, including the controversial decision to award the 2025 CAN trophy to Morocco.
A high-stakes visit to ease tensions
Motsepe announced in late March that he would travel to both Senegal and Morocco to emphasize the importance of «working together to develop African football», as his organization faces mounting criticism following the CAF Appeals Committee’s decision to strip Senegal of its African Cup of Nations title in favor of Morocco. The Senegalese Football Federation has since appealed the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which is expected to rule on the matter in the coming months.
Context of the controversial decision
The visit comes in a particularly tense climate. On March 18, the Senegalese government issued a statement demanding an international investigation into «suspicions of corruption within the governing bodies» of the African football governing body. Motsepe had previously denied allegations that any African nation received preferential treatment, praising the «independence» of CAF’s disciplinary bodies.