CAF president Patrice Motsepe don finally land Dakar for Wednesday, April 8, as e try to calm tension wey dey after AFCON final wahala. The man come with peace message, but the matter still dey hot like fire.
Wetin cause all this palaver? Na because CAF Appeal Board take AFCON 2025 trophy from Senegal hand give Morocco. The board say Senegal players, coach Pape Thiaw, and all their staff walk out from pitch for Rabat after referee blow penalty for Morocco for stoppage-time. Only Sadio Mané remain for field. Brahim Díaz miss the penalty, but CAF still use regulation wey talk say if team abandon match, dem go award 3-0 win to the other side. So Morocco become champion.
Senegal no gree at all. Their Football Federation don already carry the case go Court of Arbitration for Sport. Their government sef don call for international investigation into corruption for inside CAF. Dem suspect say something fishy dey.
As Motsepe land, e meet FA president Abdoulaye Fall. Later, e see Senegal president Bassirou Diomaye Faye for presidential palace. E even visit Gorée Island. The CAF boss yarn say African football need unity, say all of us suppose dey together. E praise Senegal leaders.
But as e dey talk peace, Motsepe still address the corruption allegations wey dey fly upandan. For press conference, e tell reporters say CAF dey open to any investigation. “CAF, be it by a government or any institution, we welcome any investigation. In fact, I would encourage it. We will give them our full cooperation,” Motsepe talk. E deny say dem dey favour Morocco for the appeal case.
Motsepe talk say corruption no good at all. “We cannot give our children the perception that if you want to succeed in life, be corrupt. There has to be zero tolerance for corruption,” e add.
Even with all the legal fight wey dey CAS, Motsepe still find time to talk about World Cup. E give Senegal hope for 2026 FIFA World Cup. Senegal group hard die: dem go face France, wey be two-time world champion, then Norway with Erling Haaland, and Iraq. Motsepe still show confidence say Senegal fit do well.
Meanwhile, for Morocco side, Motsepe plan to visit Rabat on Thursday. E go meet Fouzi Lekjaa, president of Royal Moroccan Football Federation. CAF sef plan to hold press conference there to explain more about their decisions.
This Senegal and Morocco visit na part of Motsepe plan to manage the fallout from AFCON. E announce the trip since end of March, say e go go both countries to show say African football need to grow together.
But the wound still fresh. Senegal players don already show their mind. For one viral video, dem display portraits, many people say na protest against CAF decision. The matter still dey court, and Senegal government no dey look back.
Motsepe talk say e go respect whatever decision CAS take. “My personal opinion regarding the matter is irrelevant,” e talk last month. But as e dey yarn peace for Dakar, the whole Africa dey watch to see how this wahala go end.
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