Patrice Motsepe, the head of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), arrived in Dakar this Wednesday. His visit comes nearly a month after the controversial decision to strip Sénégal of its African champion status and award the title to Maroc, a move that sparked widespread outrage across the nation.
Will this be a high-pressure visit? As scheduled, the CAF President is in the Senegalese capital following the governing body’s choice to hand Maroc a default victory for CAN 2025. This ruling came despite the Lions of Teranga defeating the Atlas Lions 1-0 on the pitch after extra time. The sudden reversal has caused a wave of indignation throughout Sénégal.
In late March, Patrice Motsepe announced his intention to travel to both Sénégal and Maroc to highlight the necessity of “collaborating to advance African football,” as his administration faces mounting disapproval. He landed at Blaise Diagne International Airport near Dakar late Tuesday night, where he was greeted by Abdoulaye Fall, the President of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF).
According to a statement from CAF, the football executive’s itinerary begins with a visit to Gorée Island, a site of deep historical significance regarding the slave trade. He is subsequently expected at the presidential palace for a meeting with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The day will conclude with a press briefing scheduled for 17:30 local time (GMT) at a hotel in Dakar.
Senegalese authorities demand transparency
This diplomatic mission occurs during a period of intense friction. The dispute stems from the chaotic final held in Rabat in January, where Sénégal initially secured a 1-0 win. During that match, several Senegalese players walked off the pitch for fifteen minutes after the referee awarded Maroc a penalty in stoppage time, shortly after a Senegalese goal had been disallowed. Although Brahim Diaz missed the penalty with a panenka attempt and Sénégal eventually won in extra time, the outcome was later overturned.
On March 17, the CAF Appeal Jury officially declared Sénégal as having forfeited the match, granting Maroc a 3-0 victory based on articles 82 and 84 of the tournament regulations. After a three-week wait for the formal documentation, the Senegalese Football Federation filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which is currently pending a decision.
The ruling has triggered a massive backlash in the West African nation. On March 18, the government of Sénégal called for an international probe into “suspicions of corruption within the leadership” of the continental body. In response, Patrice Motsepe has maintained that no nation receives “favorable treatment,” defending the autonomy of CAF’s disciplinary committees.