Hello and welcome to Teta Tet France 24's flagship interview show. Our guest today is Patrice Motsepe. He is the president of the African Football Confederation. Thank you very much for being our guest. Let's start with Kenya. We're in Nairobi. Kenya is one of the co-hosts of the next African Cup of Nations with neighboring Uganda and Tanzania. So, big question is this: in a year's time, will all the countries be ready for yet another successful AFCON?
There's a huge amount of commitment by the heads of states of Kenya, of Tanzania, of Uganda. The ministers are working round the clock. There's an excellent team of CAF led by the acting general secretary. We've got people that are full-time in those countries. We set very high standards. Will they be reached? Well, those standards are very high and it's very important. There's a huge commitment across the board and I'm confident that those standards will be fulfilled. And that it will be an even more successful AFCON. What I'm going to tell you is this: if they can, and we will at the very least match what happened in Morocco, it will be enormously successful. And what I like is there's a huge focus and a commitment to be even more successful because you have to consistently improve. And every AFCON has to be better than the previous one. The first AFCON I had was in Cameroon. Very successful despite all the challenges. The second AFCON was in Cote d'Ivoire. Significantly better than Cameroon but also enormously successful. And Morocco has taken us to a very high level, and I'm thankful to the people of Morocco, the government of Morocco, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, and our partners in football.
Fouzi, you mentioned how successful the competition was. However, there is a shadow hanging because of the finals. We all remember what happened. Senegal was declared winner, then more than 2 months later an appeals committee from the African Football Confederation declared Morocco winner, creating huge tensions, huge controversy. Now, the ball is in the court of the Court of Arbitration for Sports. Do you think that whatever decision this assistance will take, it will calm things down, or will the unhappiness remain?
Things are back to normal. We have learned from what happened in Morocco, and I have previously said I was deeply disappointed because it was the most successful AFCON. But, what it exposed to us was the continuing sense of suspicion and distrust of our referees. We've done excellent work. You know, we had a partnership with FIFA. We professionalized the referees, the standards, the quality, the expertise, world-class. But, there is still in some quarters the perception that there's improper influence. And it's clear, if we find any corrupt, improper behavior, conduct, we will take serious action.
You didn't find any with the referee from the final?
We didn't. But, you know, because let me tell you this. We called the head of the referees committee, the chairman, to come and give an account of the performance of the referee to the highest decision-making body in CAF, the EXCO. And he came and reported, and all of the leaders, about 22, 23, 24 presidents of member associations, which is countries on the continent, they asked him all sorts of questions. And because that's how it has to be. But, I just want to conclude by saying I am confident that based on what has happened since the AFCON in Morocco, we are now stronger, more united than ever. And I have to respect not just due process, but also procedure, and I cannot comment on the decisions of the Court of Arbitration for Sport until the decision is made. But, I'm satisfied that whatever decision comes out of CAS, we will respect it. Listen, this is a democracy. Every country, if there's a perception that there was behavior that's improper, has a right to go to the appropriate bodies in CAF, and we have to respect those bodies, and I have to stay away from them.
Right. But, there is, you know, many countries, Senegal and others have said, Morocco needed to win. And Senegal said Morocco needed to win?
Well, many people, you know, many of football commentators and some members of federations said, you know, we felt there was a lot of pressure to have Morocco win this competition.
Just expect on the field or outside?
What do you mean? Why would there be pressure for Morocco to win? Because they're the host country and so on. No?
No. You deny that there was any impropriety?
