Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe declared on Wednesday that he would welcome an external investigation into corruption within the continental governing body. Motsepe made the comments in Dakar following a meeting with Senegalese officials and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
The diplomatic meeting followed a formal request from the Senegalese government for a corruption probe. The request was triggered by a CAF Appeal Board decision last month that stripped Senegal of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and awarded the trophy to Morocco.
A contentious ruling
The dispute stems from the AFCON final held on January 18 in Rabat. Senegal won the match 1-0, but the contest was marred by a late refereeing decision that prompted the Senegalese players to walk off the pitch in protest for several minutes.
“I would welcome any investigation into corruption at CAF, be it by a government or any institution,” Motsepe told reporters. “In fact, I would encourage it. We will give them our full cooperation.”
Motsepe emphasized that the organization maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding unethical behavior. He argued that the body must set a clear standard for the next generation of African athletes.
“We cannot give our children the perception that if you want to succeed in life, be corrupt,” Motsepe said. “There has to be zero tolerance. That's the best gift we can give football in Africa.”
Despite the push for transparency, Motsepe declined to discuss the specific merits of the Senegal-Morocco case. He noted that the matter is currently being litigated before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the highest authority in global sports law.
“There is nothing I can tell you that I haven't said already 10, 15, 20 times,” Motsepe stated. “I have an obligation to respect that the matter is now in front of the highest sports court in the world.”
Critics have alleged that the CAF appeal process favored Morocco, a claim Motsepe flatly rejected. He insisted that the organization treats all member nations equally regardless of regional influence or venue.
“Under no circumstances will any single country in Africa be treated more preferentially or more favorably than any other,” he said. “That will never happen.”
Motsepe is scheduled to travel to Morocco on Thursday to continue his series of meetings with national football associations. The discussions are intended to address the fallout from the final and mend relations between the affected parties.
