CAF President Patrice Motsepe has praised His Majesty King Mohammed VI for granting a royal pardon to Senegalese supporters convicted over offences linked to the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
In a statement released on Saturday, Motsepe described the decision as a powerful example of football’s ability to unite people across Africa and beyond.
“On behalf of the CAF Member Associations who represent 54 African countries, I would like to express our deep gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, for granting His Royal Pardon to the Senegalese supporters convicted of offences relating to the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025,” the CAF President said.
Motsepe added that CAF remains committed to using football as a tool for unity among people of different racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.
“The pardon by His Majesty King Mohammed VI is an uplifting and motivating illustration of the power of football to unite and bring our people together in Africa and worldwide,” he stated.
The CAF President also explained that he had recently visited both Morocco and Senegal, where he learned more about the “historic and extensive ties” between the two nations.
Motsepe further extended CAF’s best wishes to Africa’s representatives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“We are confident that they will make Africa proud,” he said.
