The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced this week that it is implementing changes and improvements to the CAF statutes and regulations that it says will strengthen the trust and confidence in CAF referees, VAR operators and judicial bodies.
“These changes and improvements to the CAF statutes and regulations will also ensure that the incidences that took place at the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 do not happen again,” CAF released.
“CAF will continue with the procedure and practice of appointing the best and most respected African judges and lawyers to the CAF Disciplinary Board and Appeal Board. These judges and lawyers are appointed by the CAF EXCO and the CAF Ordinary General Assembly from the names proposed and recommended by the 54 CAF member associations and zonal unions. The independence and impartiality of the CAF judicial bodies is imperative.”
“The CAF Referees and VAR Operators at the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023 received widespread praise and admiration for their excellent performances and CAF is determined to regain that respect and admiration.”
President of CAF Patrice Motsepe said last week that CAF is currently implementing “far-reaching changes and improvements to the CAF statutes and regulations, which will strengthen the trust and confidence in CAF referees, VAR operators, match commissioners and in the CAF Disciplinary Board and Appeal Board. These changes and improvements will also ensure that the unacceptable incidences that took place at the CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 do not happen again. CAF has taken extensive legal advice from top African and international football lawyers and experts to ensure that the CAF statutes and regulations adhere to and implement global football best practices on and off the field. This is important for the respect, integrity and credibility of African referees, VAR operators and the CAF Disciplinary Board and Appeal Board. CAF is working with FIFA for the ongoing training of African referees, VAR operators and match commissioners so that they are as good as the best in the world. We must also professionalise African referees and VAR operators and pay them well. CAF has made significant progress over the past five years in implementing governance, ethics, transparency and managerial best practices,” Motsepe added.
“Our commitment to zero tolerance for corruption and improper behaviour has been recognised and rewarded by the numerous sponsors and partners that we have gained.
“What is also non-negotiable is our commitment and determination to treat each and every member association equally and fairly. Under no circumstances will any member association be treated preferentially or favoured above any other member association. CAF will consistently review and improve on these football and governance global best practices and strengthen the trust and global competitiveness of African football. The matters relating to the incidences that took place at the final match of the CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 are before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the primary focus of CAF currently, is on the CAF Confederation Cup, the CAF Champions League and the other CAF competitions. CAF is also focused on working together, cooperating and supporting each of the African nations that will be participating in the FIFA World Cup 2026. We are confident that the African nations that are participating in the FIFA World Cup 2026 will make us proud.”
CAF is awaiting a decision by CAS on Senegal’s appeal against being stripped of the AFCON title.
Senegal is challenging CAF’s appeals body for overturning their 1-0 win over hosts Morocco in January’s AFCON final.
During the game, Senegal’s players left the field in protest when, with the score at 0-0, hosts Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty.
When they returned after a delay of about 17 minutes, Morocco subsequently failed to score the spot-kick and Senegal netted an extra-time winner.
Following an appeal by the Moroccan FA (FRMF), CAF later ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match and Morocco were awarded a 3-0 victory.
So both countries now claim to be African champion pending the outcome. The Senegal team paraded the trophy in Paris on Saturday.
Motsepe also confirmed that the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will go ahead in Morocco as initially planned. The tournament had been scheduled to take place in the kingdom from 17 March to 3 April 3 but was pushed back at short notice to 25 July to 16 August.
“There were circumstances that we had not foreseen,” Motsepe said after being pressed for the reasons for the postponement.
Motsepe also said he will visit Kenya in May to see how preparations are going for the men’s 2027 Africa Cup, which Kenya is due to co-host with Tanzania and Uganda. He dismissed suggestions the tournament could be moved to another country.
Motsepe also announced the expansion of the Africa Cup to include 28 teams, up from 24 at the 2025 edition.
Motsepe already announced in December that the Africa Cup will be held every four years from 2028.
Earlier, Véron Mosengo-Omba announced he was stepping down after five years as CAF general secretary “to devote myself to more personal projects”.
Mosengo-Omba said in a statement he was retiring following the fallout over the AFCON title and the postponement of the women’s tournament at the last minute.
Mosengo-Omba alluded to controversies faced during his tenure in his statement on Sunday.
“I have decided to step down from my position as Secretary General of CAF to devote myself to more personal projects,” wrote Mosengo-Omba, deputy to Motsepe.
“Now that I have been able to dispel the suspicions that some people have gone to great lengths to cast on me, I can retire with peace of mind and without constraint, leaving the CAF more prosperous than ever.”
According to Reuters, CAF’s competitions director Samson Adamu will take over as acting general secretary.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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