Motsepe Praises Moroccan King's Pardon of Senegalese Fans

The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, praised the initiative taken by Moroccan King Mohammed VI, following the issuance of a royal pardon for Senegalese fans who were convicted in cases related to the final match of the Africa Cup of Nations "Total Energies Morocco 2025".

Motsepe, in official statements, affirmed that this step reflects the values of tolerance and closeness among African peoples, expressing his great appreciation for the humanitarian stance shown by the Moroccan king towards the Senegalese fans.

The CAF president said: "On behalf of the member associations of the Confederation of African Football, representing 54 African countries, I extend my sincere gratitude to King Mohammed VI for his royal pardon of the Senegalese fans who were convicted of offenses related to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco."

Motsepe emphasized that the African Union continues to work on establishing the role of football as a means to promote unity and closeness among people, regardless of racial, ethnic, or religious differences. He explained that the royal decision clearly embodies the ability of football to unite hearts within and beyond the African continent.

The CAF president added that he was greatly moved during his recent visit to both Morocco and Senegal a few weeks ago, after witnessing the depth of the historical relations and strong ties that unite the Moroccan and Senegalese peoples.

In his concluding remarks, the African Football Confederation extended its best wishes to the African teams participating in the 2026 World Cup finals, namely Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Cape Verde, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, expressing confidence in these teams' ability to honor the African continent on the global stage.