Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has expressed his openness to an inquiry into corruption within the organisation, asserting they have nothing to conceal following a meeting with Senegalese officials in Dakar on Wednesday.
Last month, the Senegalese government called for a corruption investigation after the CAF Appeal Board rescinded their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded it to their opponents in the final, Morocco.
This follows chaotic scenes during the 1-0 victory Senegal achieved in the January 18 final in Rabat, where they momentarily left the pitch in protest of the referee’s decisions.
During his discussions with members of the Senegalese Football Federation and Senegalese president Bassirou Diomaye Faye on Wednesday, Motsepe advocated for unity amid the ongoing fallout from the final. He is scheduled to meet with officials in Morocco on Thursday as part of similar discussions.
“I am open to any inquiries into corruption at CAF, whether conducted by a government entity or another organisation,” Motsepe remarked to journalists. “In fact, I would strongly encourage it. We shall provide our full cooperation.
“I have been informed of past issues that required intervention. This is not only relevant in football but spans business and politics as well. We cannot allow our children to think that corruption is the path to success. A zero-tolerance approach towards corruption is essential.
“That would be the greatest gift we could give to football in Africa. It’s about more than just speaking out against corruption; it involves taking action, establishing the necessary legislation, and ensuring proper implementation.”
Motsepe refrained from commenting on the ongoing dispute between Senegal and Morocco, which is currently before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“There is nothing I can say that I haven’t reiterated multiple times before. You can ask me the same question a hundred times; my answer will remain unchanged. I have a duty to respect the fact that this matter is now with the highest court in sport worldwide.”
He dismissed any allegations that Morocco had received preferential treatment during the appeal process.
“Under no circumstances will one nation in Africa receive preferential treatment over another. That is not going to happen,” he stated. “We are confident that we will emerge from these challenges more united as the 54 nations of Africa.”
Compiled by SportArena.au
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