CAF President Patrice Motsepe has addressed the aftermath of the disciplinary sanctions imposed following the AFCON 2025 final held in Morocco, reaffirming the confederation’s commitment to protecting the credibility of African football.
Dr. Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football, said
« I am absolutely determined, as are the CAF Executive Committee (COMEX) and the Presidents of CAF Member Associations, representing 54 African countries, to preserve and strengthen the integrity, reputation, and global competitiveness of African football and CAF competitions. I was deeply disappointed by the unacceptable incidents that occurred during the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025.
I have taken note of the decision handed down by the CAF Disciplinary Committee, announced on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, and I fully respect all decisions made by our judicial bodies, which I will strictly comply with.
I have convened a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee (COMEX), CAF’s highest decision-making body outside the Annual Ordinary General Assembly, to review CAF regulations, including the Disciplinary Code. This review aims to ensure that CAF’s judicial bodies have sufficient powers to impose appropriate and dissuasive sanctions in cases of serious violations of CAF’s Statutes, Regulations, and Disciplinary Code, as well as for any behavior that seriously damages the reputation, integrity, respect, and global competitiveness of African football and CAF competitions.
In recent years, we have significantly improved the quality, integrity, independence, skills, and expertise of African referees, VAR operators, and match commissioners. We are determined to allocate additional financial resources and enhanced technical expertise to ensure that the quality, integrity, impartiality, skills, and expertise of African referees, VAR operators, and match commissioners are comparable to the best in the world.
One of the first decisions I made upon becoming CAF President was to ensure the independence and impartiality of the CAF Referees Committee, which is composed of members nominated by the 54 CAF Member Associations, as well as the most qualified and respected referees on the continent. It is essential that African referees, VAR operators, and match commissioners are perceived, respected, and recognized as impartial, fair, and world-class.
I am confident that with the additional reforms and far-reaching measures we are putting in place, African football and CAF competitions will continue to be respected, admired, and ranked among the best in the world. «
