During a press conference held in Dar es Salaam, the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, expressed his concerns about the quality of officiating at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025, currently taking place in Morocco. This statement was made on the sidelines of a CAF executive committee meeting, highlighting the importance the organization places on the competition’s organization and the credibility of its decisions.
In his remarks, Motsepe provided a mixed review of recent AFCON editions. He noted that the officiating in the previous edition, held in Côte d’Ivoire, was generally satisfactory. “The officiating reports from the Ivorian edition were excellent,” he stated, emphasizing the professionalism of the officials and the rigor with which the matches were overseen. According to him, this performance helped to bolster the trust of the public, teams, and partners in the smooth running of the competition.
On the other hand, the CAF president expressed disappointment over certain aspects observed during AFCON 2025 in Morocco. Without naming specific referees, he pointed out that several decisions made on the field seemed inconsistent and lacked the necessary regularity for a tournament of this magnitude. For Motsepe, these shortcomings could undermine the competition’s credibility if not quickly addressed. He stressed that it is crucial to maintain high standards in officiating so that every match is played under conditions of total fairness and transparency.
This stance comes amid a backdrop of numerous officiating controversies during AFCON 2025. Several matches have sparked passionate debates fueled by decisions deemed questionable by some observers and fans. CAF, through its governing bodies, appears to want to send a clear message: officiating must be uniform and impeccable to ensure the tournament’s credibility and image.
Patrice Motsepe also reminded everyone that improving officiating standards is not just about current matches but must be viewed from a long-term perspective. Additional training, rigorous monitoring, and constant evaluations of referees’ performances are measures being considered to ensure that each edition of AFCON reflects the professionalism expected at the continental level.
In conclusion, the CAF president emphasized the need for consistency in officiating decisions to preserve the integrity of the competition and continue to build trust among players, coaches, and fans across Africa.
