The Confederation of African Football has announced the commencement of sweeping reforms to its statutes and regulations following the controversies that trailed the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final held in Morocco.
In a statement released on Sunday, the continental football governing body said the reforms are aimed at preventing a recurrence of the incidents that overshadowed the tournament’s final, which has since sparked a lingering legal dispute between Morocco and Senegal over the title.
CAF noted that the regulatory changes are designed to restore confidence in key football institutions, including referees, Video Assistant Referee officials, match commissioners, as well as its Disciplinary and Appeal Boards.
Speaking after the organisation’s congress in Egypt, CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, said the body had already begun implementing far-reaching improvements to strengthen transparency and credibility across its operations.
According to him, the reforms will ensure that the issues witnessed during the 2025 AFCON final do not recur in future competitions.
“CAF is currently implementing far-reaching changes and improvements to the CAF statutes and regulations, which will strengthen trust and confidence in referees, VAR operators, match commissioners, as well as the Disciplinary and Appeal Boards,” Motsepe stated.
He added that the continental body had consulted widely with leading African and international football legal experts to align its regulatory framework with global best practices both on and off the pitch.
Motsepe emphasised that the initiative is crucial to safeguarding the integrity and credibility of football administration in Africa, particularly in officiating and disciplinary processes.
The CAF president further disclosed that the organisation is collaborating with FIFA to enhance the training of referees, VAR officials, and match commissioners across the continent.
He also stressed the need to professionalise refereeing in Africa, noting that improved remuneration and structured development would help officials attain global standards.
Motsepe added that CAF had made notable progress in recent years in strengthening governance, ethics, transparency, and management practices within African football.
