Motsepe's Vague Response to AFCON Final Chaos Despite Senegal's Involvement
On Friday, Patrice Motsepe's statements regarding the incidents of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final were notably general, devoid of any specific reference to the actual responsibilities for what transpired on the field. The final match between Morocco and Senegal was far from ordinary, witnessing a temporary withdrawal by the Senegalese national team in protest of a referee's decision to award Morocco a decisive penalty, before they returned to complete the game under pressure from the referee and match observers.
This withdrawal, accompanied by provocative actions from the Senegalese technical staff and some players, created a highly charged atmosphere in the stands. A number of Senegalese fans engaged in clear acts of hooliganism, including attempts to storm parts of the pitch and throwing objects at players and officials, which led to a state of chaos and significant pressure on the event organizers. Morocco, for its part, delivered exceptional organization for the final, both in terms of stadiums and infrastructure, as well as security. This was confirmed by observers and delegates from several African federations, thereby directly placing responsibility for the events on the Senegalese side and its fans.
In contrast, the CAF President chose to describe what happened as a 'stain on the tournament,' asserting that the confederation would seek to amend regulations to ensure deterrent penalties for violations. However, he did not explicitly clarify the direct responsibilities of the Senegalese side or the nature of the crowd disturbances. Motsepe's statements, despite an attempt to cover them with official and 'diplomatic' language, failed to reflect Morocco's commitment and organizational success, making the discourse akin to a general discussion that avoids identifying the responsible party in the incident.
Thus, the reality remains that Morocco was a victim of actions beyond its organizational control, both concerning the Senegalese team's withdrawal and the crowd disturbances. Meanwhile, CAF's official decisions and statements appear to avoid assigning direct responsibility, which raises questions about the seriousness of the anticipated penalties and their ability to deter future transgressions.
