Patrice Motsepe’s official visit to Dakar after Senegal’s CAN 2025 title revocation
Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), arrives in Dakar on Wednesday for an official visit nearly a month after the organization stripped Senegal of its African Nations Championship title, awarding it to Morocco instead—a decision that sparked widespread outrage nationwide.
Patrice Motsepe, who heads the African football governing body, was greeted in the early hours of Wednesday by Abdoulaye Fall, president of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF).
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 pressing matters affecting African football, including the contentious decision to award the CAN 2025 trophy to Morocco.
a mission aimed at reconciliation
In late March, Motsepe announced his planned visits to both Senegal and Morocco, emphasizing the need to «work together to develop African football». This outreach comes amid intense criticism directed at the CAF since its appeals committee controversially stripped Senegal of its continental title in favor of Morocco. The Senegalese Football Federation has since filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with a ruling expected in the coming months.
The timing of Motsepe’s visit to Senegal is particularly sensitive. On March 18, the Senegalese government called for an international investigation into allegations of corruption within the CAF’s leadership. In response, Motsepe asserted that no African nation receives preferential treatment, praising the independence of the organization’s disciplinary bodies.
The CAF president’s visit follows mounting pressure from Senegalese authorities and football stakeholders, reflecting the deep divisions that have emerged following the contentious title reassignment.
