AFCON 2025: Revelations on Officiating Rekindle Controversy

The meeting of the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), held on Friday in Dar es Salaam, was largely dominated by the aftermath of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final played in Morocco.

While the potential tightening of the Disciplinary Code was on the agenda, certain statements quickly overshadowed the rest of the discussions.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe said he was “extremely disappointed” by the incidents that marked the final. He also suggested that the sanctions imposed by the Disciplinary Committee were insufficient, highlighting the need to strengthen the regulatory framework.

The South African leader also did not conceal his dissatisfaction with the officiating of the match, paving the way for particularly sensitive exchanges.

It was in this context that the Chairman of the Referees Committee, Olivier Safari Kabene, reportedly made a statement with serious implications.

According to information relayed by specialized media outlets, he acknowledged having issued instructions aimed at preventing the definitive interruption of the match following the temporary withdrawal of Senegalese players.

The regulations, however, provided for immediate sanctions upon their return to the pitch. It was allegedly decided not to apply those warnings in order to avoid a situation that could have led to the premature termination of the match.

A strict application of the regulations would have placed Senegal at a numerical disadvantage, as several players were already at risk of receiving a booking.

Another troubling element: the head of refereeing reportedly indicated that he had not been fully informed of the appointment of certain referees who officiated during the tournament, despite attending the preparatory meetings prior to the competition’s kickoff.

If confirmed, these statements would raise questions about the internal appointment process and the transparency of decision-making within the continental governing body.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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