Afcon 2025 Senegal, Morocco, brouhaha: CAF Decisions Are Fair, Impartial , Motseppe insists
By Abdulgafar Oladimeji
The president of the Confederation of African Football, CAF , Patrice Motseppe has maintained that Africa’s football governing body will always adhere to the verdicts passed by its judicial bodies.
Motseppe in a widely circulated video, released by CAF media sources, in the aftermath of the decision of the CAF Appeal’s committee, which revoked the Tenaga Lions o f Senegal ‘s Afcon 2025 final victory against Morocco , he said the body respects the independent rulings made by its judicial organs.
The CAF honcho, further stated that, the judicial bodies operating within the confederation is an composition of the best brains drawn from the bar and bench spread across the 54 African countries that constitutes the confederation.
It would be recalled that the CAF Appeals Committee in its wisdom has recently stripped Senegal of the Afcon 2025 title and awarded the trophy to their final opponents, and host, the Atlas Lions of Morocco, the decision culminated into uproar and divergent opinions on the interpretation’s of Afcon laws.
It would be further recalled that, the final match between Senegal vs Morocco, during the final match on Sunday January 18th, played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco , the Centre Referee Jean Ngambo from DR Congo had awarded a penalty to Morocco, which they though failed to convert from the spot, the Senegalese had earlier walk out of the field of play in protest, though later returned to complete the abandoned match
The West Africans went on to win the encounter 1-0, courtesy of an fourth minute into extra time goal scored by Pape Gueye .
Morocco cried foul and filed a petition against their final defeat, citing the violations of article 84 of Afcon rules, CAF Disciplinary Committee wasted no time in dismissing the petition, the Moroccans pressed further by filing an appeal against the result of the match , requesting for an upturn of the decision made by the Disciplinary Committee.
The Appeal’s Committee chaired by Nigerian born, Justice Roli Daibo Harriman granted the prayers of the Moroccans by reversing the Senegalese victory at the final match, declaring Morocco as the official champions of Africa’s biggest football prize.
The verdict passed by the Appeal’s Committee has sparked off reactions , the African football family is now enveloped in interpretation’s that is roaring to tear apart African football fraternity.
CAF president in his response to the development , said the confederations takes seriously the incidences that erupted during the final match of the competition,
Motseppe have expressed disappointment over the incidences that almost marred the final match
According to him, CAF has invested human and capital resources to build the credibility of the competition and the game at large on the continent.
Motseppe disclosed that CAF , in so many years have been dealing with issues bordering on suspicions on partiality and lack of fairness, admitting that over the years , there has been legacy issues, that were threatening the game of football in Affrica, they have now been submerged, he claimed.
He said CAF has succeeded in addressing issues of perception on the integrity of CAF activities, adding that resolutions passed by CAF bodies were independent and impartial .
Motseppe stressed that the days were gone ,when any affiliate association of CAF were been granted preferential treatment, noting that CAF has succeeded in setting high standards ,where decisions passed by CAF can stand the test of times .
He promised that CAF will always conduct its business in the spirit of transparency and accountability, to remain fair and impartial with the motive to always serve the interest of football fans and supporters, at all times
