The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled a comprehensive set of reforms aimed at restoring credibility and strengthening governance across African football, following the fallout from a highly disputed Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.
At an executive committee meeting in Cairo, CAF outlined a series of “changes and improvements” to its statutes and regulatory framework, focusing on transparency, accountability, and trust in officiating areas that have come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe acknowledged that while structural reforms are essential, shifting public perception remains equally critical particularly in relation to refereeing decisions that dominated post-final discourse.
“I can stand here and say we’ve got the best referees, they are independent, they’re impartial. But if the ordinary football spectators on the continent and elsewhere think they are not so impartial, it’s not good for African football,” Motsepe said.
The controversy stems from CAF’s unprecedented decision to strip Senegal of the AFCON title weeks after the final and reassign it to Morocco. The ruling has triggered a legal battle now before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with both nations maintaining their claims to the Championship.
Motsepe emphasized that CAF must address not only operational deficiencies but also the broader narrative surrounding governance in African football.
“We have to move away also from the perception that somehow our problems in Africa and our weaknesses in Africa are greater, bigger, more embarrassing, more extreme than the problems that happen in other parts of the world,” he added.
In response, CAF confirmed it is working closely with FIFA to enhance referee training programs and improve the implementation of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) systems. The governing body is also reviewing compensation structures for match officials, a move aimed at reinforcing integrity and reducing susceptibility to external influence.
The reforms represent a pivotal moment for CAF as it attempts to rebuild trust among fans, players, and stakeholders. With African football continuing to grow in global prominence, the organization faces mounting pressure to ensure that future tournaments are defined by sporting excellence rather than controversy.
