The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr. Patrice Motsepe, is set to make an official visit to Dakar on Tuesday, as part of a strategic effort to strengthen ties between CAF and Senegal, one of African football’s most influential Country.
The South African football administrator will be received in audience by the Head of State, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, for a high-level meeting addressing several pressing issues. Among the key topics are the tensions surrounding the unresolved 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, the ruling of the CAF Appeals Committee, infrastructure development, and Senegal’s growing role in advancing football across the West African region.
The visit comes at a critical juncture, as a controversy over the unfinished 2025 AFCON final has escalated tensions between Senegal and Morocco. The match, which was halted under disputed circumstances, led to CAF’s disciplinary committee awarding the title to Morocco, a decision that has provoked anger in Senegalese sporting circles.
In response, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has formally lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), arguing that its team’s withdrawal from the final was due to “compelling” circumstances. Despite CAF’s attempts to de-escalate the situation through carefully worded statements, public and political pressure in Dakar has continued to mount, prompting President Motsepe to intervene personally.
Following his meeting with President Faye, Motsepe will hold discussions with Abdoulaye Fall, President of the Senegalese Football Federation. Their talks are expected to focus on future technical projects, upcoming competitions, and broader collaboration between CAF and national authorities, with the aim of reinforcing Senegal’s infrastructure and institutional capacity.