Patrice Motsepe Thanks King Mohammed VI for Pardoning Senegalese Fans

The president of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, has expressed his deep gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, following the royal pardon granted to the Senegalese fans who had been convicted over the incidents that took place during the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) "Morocco 2025".

In an official statement, Motsepe affirmed that he was speaking on behalf of the 54 African football federations, praising this initiative, which he described as an "inspiring model" of football's power to unite peoples, regardless of their ethnic, cultural or religious differences.

The CAF president added that this royal gesture reflects the depth of the historical and human ties that bind Morocco and Senegal, noting that he had personally witnessed the strength of these relations during his recent visit to both countries.

Motsepe stressed the Confederation of African Football's commitment to continuing to use the game as a means of fostering closer ties between African peoples, considering that the royal pardon embodies the noble values that football carries, both on the continent and beyond.

Concluding his statement, the CAF president wished good luck to the African teams qualified for the 2026 World Cup finals, foremost among them Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, South Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, expressing his confidence in their ability to honour African football on the global stage.