🏆 "I GAVE SENEGAL $10M AND MEDALS, BUT THEY MUST RETURN THE AFCON TROPHY" — CAF PRESIDENT MOTSEPE

Motsepe made the remarks at a press conference in Dakar on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, following high-level meetings with Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and football federation boss Abdoulaye Fall. The visit came amid severe tensions between Senegal and CAF  tensions that have shaken African football to its foundation.

Speaking with remarkable candour, Motsepe declared: "I gave Sadio Mané the gold medal, I gave Koulibaly the gold medal, and I gave Sadio Mané the trophy. I gave Sadio Mane $10 million, but I have to follow the law, and I have to respect the rules and the regulations." The words were extraordinary a governing body president openly acknowledging the human cost of a decision he is nonetheless enforcing.

The saga began on January 18, 2026. CAF overturned Senegal's 1-0 win over hosts Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final, awarding Morocco a 3-0 technical victory on March 17 after citing competition regulations about leaving the field. The dispute erupted when Senegal's players walked off for 17 minutes after Morocco's penalty award in the Rabat final. Brahim Diaz missed the spot kick, but Pape Gueye's stoppage-time winner had sealed Senegal's initial victory until Morocco appealed and CAF's Appeals Jury declared Morocco 3-0 winners.

The revocation of the win triggered a strong response from fans in Senegal, where authorities called for an "independent international investigation" into corruption at CAF. Senegal's government was unsparing in its criticism, and the Senegalese Football Federation immediately escalated the matter to the sport's highest legal authority. The Senegalese Football Federation launched an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn CAF's decision. 

Motsepe flatly rejected the corruption accusations. "If anybody wants to initiate legal action alleging that there is corruption in CAF, I don't only welcome that, I encourage them," he said. "There's nothing to hide."He also defended the independence of CAF's disciplinary process, noting that the head of the Disciplinary Board himself a Senegalese national had been  required to recuse himself from the proceedings to preserve impartiality. 

On the burning question of when Senegal must return the trophy, Motsepe was firm but measured. "There's nothing I can tell you that I haven't said already, 10, 15, even 100 times. Ask me again 100 times and the answer will be the same. It's my duty and obligation as CAF President," he stated, adding: "We have an obligation to respect the matter before CAS. For now, our focus must shift to the upcoming World Cup." 

Motsepe strongly defended CAF's impartiality, emphasising that no nation or federation would receive preferential treatment, and reaffirmed the organization's zero-tolerance stance on corruption and its commitment to transparency. 

The remarks were clearly directed at widespread perceptions that Morocco  whose vice-president Faouzi Lekjaa also serves as a senior figure within CAF  wielded disproportionate influence over the outcome.

Motsepe vowed to fully respect the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and confirmed he would also visit Morocco the following day, April 9, in what was widely viewed as a diplomatic mission to calm the atmosphere on both sides of the dispute. The CAS ruling, which is expected to take several months, will be the final word on one of the most controversial episodes in African football history.

For now, Senegal holds the physical trophy but the legal battle rages on. Whether Senegal returns it or not, analysts warn that the damage has already been done, and African football risks not being taken seriously on the world stage. Motsepe flew into Dakar to try to repair a relationship. Whether a press conference however honest is enough to heal those wounds, only time will tell.