The president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, has publicly rejected allegations of corruption made by the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF). The accusations relate to the draw for the African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which was held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, on July 12, 2024.
In a statement, Motsepe asserted that the draw was conducted with "transparency and integrity" and that there is "nothing to hide." He emphasized that CAF follows strict FIFA protocols for all draws and that the process was overseen by independent observers. The FSF had alleged irregularities, claiming the draw was "rigged" after Senegal was placed in a difficult group.
The Senegalese federation had called for the draw to be annulled and re-held, a demand firmly dismissed by CAF. The governing body stated that the procedures were fully compliant and that no evidence of manipulation had been presented. The qualifying groups, featuring nine groups of six teams, are set to determine Africa's representatives at the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup.
This dispute highlights ongoing tensions within African football governance. Motsepe has urged member associations to focus on the sporting challenge ahead, while the FSF has indicated it may escalate the matter to FIFA. The first matches of the qualifying campaign are scheduled to begin later in 2024.
