When Senegal played Peru in a 2026 World Cup warm-up in Paris on Saturday, they paraded the Cup of Nations trophy.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe said on Sunday that he would “respect” the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision on Senegal’s appeal against being stripped of its Africa Cup of Nations title.
READ ALSO: ‘Everyone Knows Senegal Are African Champions’ Despite CAF’s Decision, Says Coach
“I will respect and implement the CAS decision. My personal opinion regarding the matter is irrelevant,” Motsepe told a press conference in Cairo after a meeting of CAF executives.
The Senegal appeal came after the CAF appeals body overturned a 1-0 win by Senegal over hosts Morocco in the Cup of Nations final last month.
Many Senegalese players, head coach Pape Thiaw and his staff, walked off the pitch in Rabat after Morocco were awarded an added-time penalty.
After they returned, Brahim Diaz missed the penalty, and Pape Gueye scored in extra time to win the title decider.
(FILES) Senegal's forward #10 Sadio Mane celebrates with the trophy after winning the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final football match against Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on January 18, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
(FILES) Senegal’s forward adio Mane celebrates with the trophy after winning the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final football match against Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on January 18, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
A CAF disciplinary committee later fined various figures from both teams, but did not alter the result.
Morocco then appealed and were awarded a 3-0 victory.
Motsepe stressed that the appeal board consists of independent judges and lawyers.
When Senegal played Peru in a 2026 World Cup warm-up in Paris on Saturday, they paraded the Cup of Nations trophy.
Senegalese musician Youssou N’Dour (C) holds the African Cup of Nations trophy as Senegal’s players gather around him ahead of the international friendly football match between Senegal and Peru at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on March 28, 2026. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)
Senegal then played in shirts with two stars — one for their first Cup of Nations triumph in 2022 and the other for their disputed February victory.
Motsepe said he would visit Senegal and Morocco, without giving dates, to stress the importance of “working together to grow African football”.
A statement said CAF “is implementing changes and improvements to their statutes and regulations that will strengthen trust and confidence in (African) referees, VAR operators and judicial bodies.
“These changes and improvements to the statutes and regulations will also ensure that the incidents that took place at the final… do not happen again,” the statement added.
Motsepe later announced that Nigeria-born CAF official Samson Adamu would become the caretaker general secretary of the Cairo-based organisation in place of retiring Veron Mosengo-Omba.
Mosengo-Omba, a former FIFA official born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has reached the mandatory retirement age of 66 for CAF staff.
