AFCON 2025: CAF official responds to claims of favouring hosts Morocco

Luxolo September, Head of TV & Broadcasting (Commercial) at the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has defended his boss Patrice Motsepe and the organisation against favouritism claims.

CAF has come under fire during and after the just-concluded 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with accusations of favouring host nation Morocco, who lost the final to Senegal, after some ugly scenes on Sunday.

Chief among the accusations was that referees favoured the Atlas Lions with fans and rival teams feeling that most decisions went the way of the North Africans as CAF allegedly wanted them to go all the way and win the title.

Some even claimed CAF were keen to repay Morocco for always coming to their aid, especially when it comes to hosting key tournaments, with AFCON 2025 going to the country after Guinea were not able to stage it, while the last three Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will be held in the North African nation.

Motsepe values his image

“Anyone who knows Dr Motsepe as Dr [Irvin] Khoza once described him, he suffers no fools and his name is everything,” September said on Sports Night Amplified with Andile Ncube.

“It is impossible for anyone or CAF to behave that way. It is impossible for a CAF that is led by Dr Patrice Motsepe to ever, ever behave in that particular way.

“Anyone else who works with him, who spends time with him, who understands him knows that his name is non-negotiable. We believe that football results must be decided on the field. The country that is lowest ranked and the country that is highest ranked must be ranked the same.”

September wonders why a CAF president who does not earn a salary or take allowances and uses his own resources on all his expenses at the organisation can receive money to favour Morocco or any other country at a tournament.

Philanthropic CAF boss defended

Was AFCON sold/promised/skewed so Morocco win it ?

I asked head CAF Head of tv and commercial @Lux_September earlier today on @SNAWA_MetroFmSA pic.twitter.com/XYWEQ8bAFB

— Andile Ncube (@AndileNcube) January 21, 2026

“We have a CAF president who doesn’t take a single cent of football,” he added. “CAF doesn’t pay for his travels, meals, salary, not accommodation, or even security. It comes from his pocket. So what would he need from anyone?

“Even when he goes for FIFA tournaments, he pays for his own travel and accommodation. He doesn’t take any cent from FIFA. Today, there is not a single administrator at FIFA, UEFA, CONMEBOL or at CONCACAF that does not take money from football. It is only one.”

Referees have been accused of overlooking penalty shouts from Tanzania and Cameroon against Morocco in the Round of 16 and quarter-final respectively while Nigeria also had complaints in the semi-final against the Atlas Lions.

Dramatic moments of AFCON 2025 final

In the final, all was well until late when Senegal scored but the goal was disallowed over a foul on Achraf Hakimi in the box, which some have suggested did not warrant ruling out the goal.

Moments later, Morocco were awarded a penalty after Brahim Diaz was brought down in the box when a set-piece was being taken, sparking protests from the Senegalese, who even staged a walkout at the instruction of their coach.

The Senegal player would come back for the penalty after pleas from Sadio Mane with Diaz missing his kick, sending the game into extra-time, where Pape Gueye scored the winning goal.