Second Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Kurt Simeon-Okraku, has firmly dismissed claims that the organisation deliberately sought to influence the outcome of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in favour of host nation Morocco.

The allegations emerged during the tournament amid a series of controversial refereeing decisions that some observers believed worked to Morocco’s advantage. The debate climaxed following the dramatic final, which Morocco ultimately lost to Senegal, despite being awarded a contentious penalty that led to Senegal briefly walking off the pitch in protest.

In some quarters, it was suggested that CAF was eager to reward Morocco for hosting the continental showpiece on multiple occasions by ensuring the title went to the North African nation.

However, speaking on Metro TV, Mr Simeon-Okraku categorically rejected the claims, insisting that CAF’s leadership would never compromise the integrity of the competition.

“There can never be a conspiracy in the leadership, myself inclusive, to reward Morocco. That would never happen,” he stated.

“CAF, by its nature and structure, will never manipulate any system to favour a member association.”

While defending CAF’s processes, the CAF vice president acknowledged that not everything went perfectly during the tournament, particularly in the final between Morocco and Senegal. He conceded that some of the incidents witnessed were less than ideal but argued that they should not detract from the overall success of the competition.

“Yes, the scenes on that day were not what you expect, but I see them as part of the excitement of the game,” he said.

“They showed how much Senegal wanted to win.”

Mr Simeon-Okraku also came to the defence of match officials, noting that refereeing mistakes are a universal feature of football and not unique to African competitions. According to him, while officiating standards must continually improve, isolated errors should not be interpreted as evidence of a grand scheme to influence results.

The 2025 AFCON concluded with Senegal lifting the trophy after a tense and dramatic tournament that generated widespread debate but also showcased the passion and competitiveness of African football.