CAF Moves To Rebuild Confidence In Officials After AFCON Final Dispute

The Confederation of African Football has unveiled a series of major reforms aimed at restoring confidence in refereeing, VAR operations, and its judicial processes following controversies at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco.

In a statement released on Sunday, the continental football body explained that the new measures are designed to prevent a recurrence of the incidents that overshadowed the tournament’s finale.

The reforms are also intended to strengthen the credibility and professionalism of match officials across Africa.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe said the changes were the result of extensive consultations with leading African and international legal experts.

According to him, the organisation is aligning its statutes with global best practices to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability.

Motsepe stressed that CAF remains committed to improving the quality of refereeing on the continent. He revealed that the body is working closely with FIFA to enhance the training of referees, VAR operators, and match commissioners, while also pushing for better remuneration to professionalise the system.

The football governing body also reaffirmed its dedication to maintaining independent and impartial judicial structures.

It noted that members of its disciplinary and appeal boards are carefully selected from nominations submitted by its 54 member associations and zonal unions.

CAF further emphasised its zero-tolerance stance on corruption and improper conduct, assuring that all member associations would be treated equally without favoritism.

Meanwhile, the issues surrounding the 2025 AFCON final are currently before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

As reforms take shape, CAF remains focused on ongoing competitions and preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expressing confidence in Africa’s global competitiveness.