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Allegations of Interference Hit CAF Appeals Process Over Morocco-Senegal AFCON Case
Fresh controversy has emerged within African football governance following explosive allegations of interference in a case involving Morocco and Senegal, raised by investigative journalist Romain Molina.
Speaking in a strongly worded statement, Molina alleged that decisions taken during the appeals process were influenced by behind-the-scenes actions that worked against Morocco.
“I’m telling you, in the first instance, there was interference against Morocco—I’m telling you, I’ll sign off on it, and I stand by it,” Molina said.
“That’s why… when people accuse me of being anti-Moroccan, it makes me laugh… Right now, I’m going with a ‘Pro-Morocco’ narrative… but I’m sticking to the narrative of what actually happened behind the scenes.”
According to him, Moroccan officials may have felt disadvantaged by the developments.
“At that specific moment, they went against Morocco… you’re standing there thinking, ‘We’ve been played.’ Because you can bet that if I have the information, they have it too.”
Molina further claimed that there was widespread pressure surrounding the appeals process under the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
“So, naturally, there’s interference coming from all sides regarding the appeals committee.”
Central to his claims is an alleged communication involving Augustin Senghor, a CAF Executive Committee member and former president of the Senegalese Football Federation. Molina said Senghor had reportedly written to CAF President Patrice Motsepe ahead of the ruling.
“He writes to Motsepe before the judgment, saying he heard by chance about a secret meeting that was going to dismiss Senegal in favor of Morocco,” Molina alleged.
“He says, ‘I hope it’s fake news, what’s happening isn’t normal.’”
Molina questioned both the response of CAF leadership and Senghor’s silence on the matter.
“First, Motsepe cannot publicly say he knows nothing when an Executive Committee member is warning him,” he said.
“But… how do you explain that Senghor doesn’t come out and reveal what he knows today?”
He added: “If you know there are secret meetings going on, why don’t you just come out and say it?”
The allegations raise fresh concerns about transparency and accountability within CAF’s decision-making processes, particularly in disciplinary and appeals matters.
As of the time of filing this report, neither CAF nor the individuals mentioned have issued an official response to the claims.
