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Patrice Motsepe held his press conference in Johannesburg on Wednesday as scheduled, addressed the media for the better part of an hour, and left the most pressing question in African football exactly where he found it. The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has no confirmed champion. Six months after the final whistle blew in Rabat, the trophy is still in legal limbo, and the CAF president's answer on Wednesday was the same answer he has given every time the subject has been raised: we are waiting for CAS, and we will implement whatever CAS decides.
That is not a dodge. It may be the only honest answer available to him. The Court of Arbitration for Sport has not issued a ruling. Fake verdicts have circulated on social media — a document claiming Senegal had been reinstated went viral in early July before CAS confirmed no such ruling existed. The case remains live, the arbitration panel remains appointed, and the hearing has not yet been scheduled. Whatever Motsepe says about the matter, the trophy does not move until the court speaks. He knows that. He said it plainly: there is nothing in our hands to do. We are awaiting the decisions and we will apply them to everyone.
What Actually Happened in Rabat in January
The full story of how African football's most prestigious domestic trophy ended up in a Swiss courtroom is worth restating clearly, because it is the context for everything Motsepe says on the subject. Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 after extra time in the AFCON 2025 final in Rabat on January 18. Pape Gueye scored the goal. The Senegalese players raised the trophy. The country celebrated. That is what happened on the pitch.
What happened off it unfolded across the weeks that followed. The controversy centred on a late stoppage-time penalty awarded to Morocco following a VAR review — a decision that Senegal's camp disputed furiously, with players briefly leaving the pitch in protest before returning to complete the match. Morocco appealed to CAF citing Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations, which stipulate that any team leaving the field without the referee's permission is to be considered the loser. CAF's Appeal Board agreed on March 17 and awarded Morocco a 3-0 technical victory. Senegal took the matter to CAS on March 25. The case is pending. The trophy has no owner that both sides recognise.
What Motsepe Did Say
The press conference produced three other lines worth tracking. First, on the World Cup: Motsepe said he was proud of Africa's record ten-nation participation and nine knockouts, and expressed optimism for future tournaments. He confirmed CAF will hold meetings with players, coaches and technical staff to identify areas for improvement — a standard post-tournament commitment, but one that carries more weight when nine nations reached the last 32 and none reached the last four. The gap is specific enough to produce a plan. Whether that plan emerges is what the next four years will show.
Second, on the CAF Champions League expansion: the Egyptian Football Association has formally requested an increase in the number of clubs participating in continental competitions. Motsepe said the request is being studied through the relevant committees and that no decision can be adopted without the approval of the relevant authorities. That means no for now, with a door left ajar. Third, and most unexpectedly, on South African politics: Motsepe dismissed reports that he intends to succeed President Ramaphosa when the latter's term ends in 2029. He said South Africa has many capable leaders. He also ruled out any ambition to succeed Gianni Infantino at FIFA. He said he will not serve more than two terms as CAF president. The man running African football, in other words, is not running for anything else.
The thing Motsepe could not do yesterday was close the AFCON file. That file stays open until CAS rules. Everything else he said is context. Sport Blot will carry the CAS verdict and its full implications the moment it lands.
