African Football Union Chief to Respect CAS Decision on AFCON Final Dispute

CAF President Patrice Motsepe has stated that he will respect and implement the decision made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding Senegal’s appeal against being stripped of their Africa Cup of Nations title. The CAS decision overturned a 1-0 win by Senegal over Morocco in the AFCON final, which was later awarded to Morocco after a penalty was awarded to them despite Senegal’s protests.

Motsepe emphasized that the CAS appeals board consists of independent judges and lawyers, and that he will visit Senegal and Morocco to stress the importance of cooperation in growing African football. He also announced plans to implement changes and improvements to CAF’s statutes and regulations to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

The changes aim to strengthen trust and confidence in referees, VAR operators, and judicial bodies, according to a statement released by CAF. The organization will also appoint a new caretaker general secretary, Samson Adamu, who will replace retiring Veron Mosengo-Omba.

Mosengo-Omba had previously announced his retirement due to mandatory age requirements, but Motsepe later stated that he has been asked by the DR Congo president to assist with football development in the country. The change in leadership comes amid a period of turmoil for African football, with criticism surrounding Mosengo-Omba’s tenure as general secretary.

CAF will continue to work towards improving its governance and ensuring fair competition in its tournaments, according to Motsepe. He plans to visit Senegal and Morocco to promote cooperation and growth in the sport.

Source: Al Jazeera