Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), arrived in Dakar on Wednesday for an official visit. His arrival follows a contentious decision to strip Senegal of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title in favor of Morocco, a move that has sparked widespread outrage in the country.

According to a CAF statement, Motsepe will first visit Gorée Island before meeting Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. He will also hold a press conference at 5:30 PM to address pressing issues in African football, including the controversial reallocation of the 2025 CAN trophy to Morocco.

a visit aimed at calming tensions

Motsepe announced in late March that he would travel to Senegal and Morocco to emphasize the need to “work together to develop African football“. This comes as the CAF faces mounting criticism following the controversial decision by its appeals committee to revoke Senegal’s title. The Senegalese Football Federation has already filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with a ruling expected in the coming months.

mounting concerns over transparency

The Senegalese government has demanded an international investigation into alleged corruption within the CAF’s governing bodies. In response, Motsepe assured that no African nation receives preferential treatment, highlighting the independence of the CAF’s disciplinary bodies.