Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), issued a statement that amounted to little more than a belated admission of a truth that AFCON 2025 attempted to conceal until the final whistle: African football is not suffering from isolated incidents, but rather from a chronic crisis of management and governance.
While Motsepe expressed his regret, calling the conduct of the final "unacceptable," and mentioned a review of the regulations and a strengthening of the powers of the disciplinary committees, the real question is not what was said, but what will be done. The recent history of CAF is littered with statements of apology that have never translated into lasting reforms.
The events of the final were not merely a refereeing controversy or an incident involving fans, but rather a sign of a deeper dysfunction within the organization, in its handling of sensitive matches and its communication with the public. Even worse, the disciplinary decisions that were supposed to have been made afterward remained vague, as if transparency were systematically relegated to the back burner when it came to preserving the organization's image.
Most troubling is FIFA's silence. Gianni Infantino's presence in Morocco during the tournament makes this silence all the more inexcusable. Is it respect for the independence of CAF? Or is it political calculation related to the 2030 World Cup? In either case, the lack of a clear position from the highest body in world football sends the wrong message: that continental crises can be stifled by silence, not by accountability.
Between CAF and FIFA, Morocco finds itself at the heart of the debate. Organizing the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations was a difficult ordeal that revealed real challenges, but this doesn't necessarily mean the country is ill-prepared for the 2030 World Cup. The difference between the two competitions is significant, and FIFA's direct involvement, along with its partnership with Spain and Portugal, completely alters the organizational landscape. However, the lessons of the 2025 AFCON should not be ignored; on the contrary, they must serve as the starting point for profound reforms, not a mere passing phase.
African football is now at a crucial turning point. Either Motsepe's admissions will mark the beginning of a genuine break with the culture of justification and ambiguity, or the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will join the archives of forgotten crises. Credibility is not restored through declarations, but through actions, and international reputation is not built through rhetoric, but through governance and transparency.
Time is running out for CAF, FIFA, and even for countries aspiring to host major international events. What African football needs today is not more excuses, but the courage to reform before crises become the norm rather than the exception.