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By Oscar Okhifo
President of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, says the body will abide by and enforce the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the dispute surrounding the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations final.
Speaking after a CAF executive meeting in Cairo on Sunday, Motsepe emphasized that the outcome of the case rests entirely with CAS, noting that his personal views have no bearing on the final decision.
“I will respect and implement the CAS decision. My personal opinion regarding the matter is irrelevant,” he said.
The dispute arose from the AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco, initially won 1-0 by Senegal under controversial circumstances.
Tensions flared late in the match after Moroccan forward Brahim Díaz was awarded a stoppage-time penalty, prompting Senegal’s players and officials, led by head coach Pape Thiaw, to walk off the pitch in protest.
Play eventually resumed, with Díaz failing to convert the penalty before Pape Gueye netted the winner in extra time to hand Senegal what appeared to be a decisive victory.
CAF’s disciplinary committee later sanctioned individuals from both sides but upheld the match result.
However, following an appeal by Morocco, CAF’s appeals board overturned the outcome and awarded a 3-0 victory to the North African side, effectively stripping Senegal of the title.
Senegal have since challenged the ruling at CAS, maintaining their status as champions.
The team reinforced that stance during a recent friendly against Peru in Paris, where they paraded the AFCON trophy and wore jerseys bearing two stars to symbolize both their 2022 triumph and the disputed 2026 title.
Motsepe reiterated that CAF’s judicial bodies operate independently, assuring that decisions are taken by qualified legal professionals without external influence.
Meanwhile, CAF’s General Secretary, Veron Mosengo-Omba, has stepped down from his position after reaching the organisation’s mandatory retirement age of 66, bringing an end to his tenure at the Cairo-based body.
Mosengo-Omba, a former FIFA official from the Democratic Republic of Congo, had served in the role since 2021 and oversaw key administrative reforms within CAF.
Following his exit, Nigerian football administrator Samson Adamu has been appointed as caretaker general secretary, pending the naming of a substantive replacement.