CAF’s Motsepe to tour both Senegal and Morocco amid AFCON results | football news

Senegal, who were stripped of the AFCON title, are appealing the decision to award the trophy to Morocco.

The president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has visited Dakar, almost a month after the body’s shock decision to strip Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations title and give it to Morocco.

Patrice Motsepe announced the trip in late March, stating that he would travel to Senegal and Morocco to emphasize the importance of “working together to develop African football”, as his organization faced considerable criticism.

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye will welcome Motsepe to the presidential palace at the end of the day, followed by a press conference.

Their visit comes at a particularly tense time for CAF following the surprise decision to overturn Senegal’s 1-0 win over hosts Morocco in the Cup of Nations final on January 18.

CAF cited rules about leaving the field as it played in a 3–0 away win over Morocco on 17 March.

During the match, Senegal’s players, head coach Pep Thiaw and his staff walked off the field in Rabat after Morocco were awarded an extra-time penalty, which forward Brahim Diaz ultimately missed.

The Senegalese Football Federation has appealed against CAF’s decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The decision has drawn a strong reaction from Senegal, whose government has called for an international investigation into suspected corruption within the institution.

Reflecting on the matter late last month, Motsepe said he would “respect and implement the CAS decision. My personal opinion about this matter is irrelevant.”