With the Confederation of African Football (CAF) still battling to save their brand following a contentious Africa Cup of Nations final, President Patrice Motsepe addressed media on Sunday.
The press briefing held at CAF headquarters in Cairo following a CAF Executive Meeting tackled a lot of things with Motsepe revealing key issues.
Here are the key talking points from the presser that was followed by millions of football lovers across the world.
Structural, legal and administrative reforms
With a decision from the CAF Appeals committee to award Morocco a 3-0 win over Senegal in the Afcon 2025 final that saw the Lions of Teranga stripped of their second title won on pitch, CAF has considered reforms to regain trust in its impartiality and ensure that the scenes from the final in January are never repeated
CAF president Patrice Motsepe said; “CAF is currently implementing far-reaching changes and improvements to the CAF Statutes and Regulations, which will strengthen the trust and confidence in CAF Referees, VAR Operators, Match Commissioners and in the CAF Disciplinary Board and Appeal Board.
“These changes and improvements to the CAF Statutes and Regulations will also ensure that the unacceptable incidences that took place at the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 do not happen again.
“CAF has taken extensive legal advice from top African and international Football lawyers and experts, to ensure that the CAF Statutes and Regulations adhere to and implement global Football best practices, on and off the field. This is important for the respect, integrity and credibility of African Referees, VAR Operators and the CAF Disciplinary Board and Appeal Board. CAF is working with FIFA for the ongoing training of African Referees, VAR Operators and Match Commissioners so that they are as good as the best in the world. We must also professionalise African Referees and VAR Operators and pay them well.
Afcon 2027 in East Africa will go on as planned
Despite reports suggesting lack of readiness from particularly Kenya and Uganda in regards to infrastructure, Motsepe is confident the Pamoja Afcon 2027 will go on successfully.
The South Africa dismissed suggestions the tournament could be moved to another country giving an example of Ivory Coast.
“In 2023, many people wanted Ivory Coast to be stripped of the hosting rights but we had one of the most successful Afcons in the country and I have faith in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to do well,” he said and confirmed he will visit Kenya in May to how preparations are going.
Expansion of Afcon to 28 nations
Motsepe also announced the expansion of the Africa Cup to include 28 teams, up from 24 at the 2025 edition.
However, he didn’t reveal when this will begin. This is another fundamental change to the historic nations’ tournament after Motsepe already announced in December that the Africa Cup will be held every four years from 2028.
General secretary steps down
Earlier, Véron Mosengo-Omba announced he was stepping down after five years as CAF general secretary “to devote myself to more personal projects.”
“Now that I have been able to dispel the suspicions that some people have gone to great lengths to cast on me, I can retire with peace of mind and without constraint, leaving the CAF more prosperous than ever,” Mosengo-Omba said Sunday.
Samson Adamu from the Nigerian Football Federation was taking over as acting general secretary and sat to Motsepe’s left during their press conference.
“The vice presidents will lead the process and will report to me on the identification of a permanent general secretary,” Motsepe said. “And I’ve told Samson, whether he likes it or not, I’m going to put pressure on him also to apply for the position to be permanent.”
Morocco hosting WAFCON
Motsepe confirmed that the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will go ahead in Morocco as initially planned. The tournament had been scheduled to take place in the kingdom from March 17 to April 3 but was pushed back at short notice to July 25-Aug. 16.
“There were circumstances that we had not foreseen,” Motsepe said after being pressed for the reasons for the postponement.