Towards a tightening of CAF's disciplinary code after incidents at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco

The head of African football made a statement about two weeks after the incidents that occurred during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco.

These incidents sparked numerous reactions even beyond Africa. Disappointed by these events, which he described as ‘unacceptable’, CAF President Patrice Motsepe reiterated his commitment to respecting CAF rules and institutions.

"I am absolutely determined, as are the CAF Executive Committee (EXCO) and the Presidents of the CAF Member Associations, representing 54 African countries, to preserve and strengthen the integrity, reputation and global competitiveness of African football and CAF competitions. I was deeply disappointed by the unacceptable incidents that occurred during the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025."

While taking note of the decision handed down by the CAF Disciplinary Board on 28 January 2026, the CAF President announced that he had convened a meeting of the Executive Committee to thoroughly review CAF regulations.

"I have convened a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee (EXCO), CAF's highest decision-making body outside the Annual Ordinary General Assembly, to review CAF regulations, including the Disciplinary Code. This review aims to ensure that CAF's judicial bodies have sufficient powers to impose appropriate and dissuasive sanctions in cases of serious violations of the Statutes, Regulations and Disciplinary Code, as well as for any behaviour that seriously damages the reputation, integrity, respect and global competitiveness of African football and CAF competitions," Motsepe announced.