Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has expressed his appreciation to King Mohammed VI of Morocco for granting a royal pardon to a group of Senegalese football fans who were convicted of offenses tied to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.

In an official statement released on Saturday, Motsepe highlighted the Moroccan monarch's decision as a profound demonstration of how sports can foster unity across the African continent and internationally.

"On behalf of the CAF Member Associations who represent 54 African countries, I would like to express our deep gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI… for granting His Royal Pardon to the Senegalese supporters convicted of offences relating to the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025," Motsepe stated.

Football as a Unifying Framework

The CAF President reiterated the governing body's ongoing mission to utilize football as a vehicle for solidarity, breaking down barriers among diverse ethnic, racial, and religious communities.

According to Motsepe, the royal intervention perfectly illustrates "the power of football to unite and bring our people together in Africa and worldwide." He added that his recent official visits to both Morocco and Senegal underscored the deep-seated historical and diplomatic relations shared between the two West and North African nations.

World Cup Well-Wishes

Concluding his address, Motsepe extended his best wishes to the ten African nations set to compete in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

He listed the continent's qualified representatives — Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo — expressing firm confidence that these teams will deliver strong performances on the global stage and bring pride to the continent.