In response to the controversies surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a sweeping reform program aimed at restoring trust and credibility in its operations, particularly in refereeing and judicial processes. Amidst internal turbulence and leadership changes, CAF is also reinforcing its commitment to governance and transparency, while positioning Morocco as a reliable host for future tournaments. DR ‹ › In a statement released on Sunday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled a reform program designed as a direct response to the tensions surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final. The organization stressed the urgent need to «strengthen trust and credibility» in key areas, including refereeing, video assistance (VAR), and its judicial bodies. This initiative comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions following incidents during the Morocco 2025 final. While CAF did not explicitly mention the Senegalese team's walk-off, which led to sanctions by the appeals committee, it referred to «unacceptable incidents» and reiterated its determination to prevent any recurrence. At the core of the plan is a comprehensive review of CAF's statutes and regulations, with particular attention to the functioning of the disciplinary board and the appeals committee, two bodies that have come under repeated criticism in recent competitions. CAF pledged to continue appointing individuals «among the most experienced and respected», selected from candidates proposed by member associations and approved by its governing structures. Structural reform to avoid AFCON 2025 incidents CAF President Patrice Motsepe is pushing for «structural» reform, developed with the support of lawyers specializing in sports law. The objective is to bring CAF's regulatory framework in line with international governance standards and strengthen the independence of its decision-making bodies. Refereeing is another central pillar of the strategy, with a focus on continuous training for referees and VAR operators, in partnership with FIFA. The issue of remuneration is also addressed, seen as a way to improve both performance and integrity. The departure of CAF Secretary General Véron Mosengo-Omba comes amid this period of internal turbulence. Officially presented as a personal decision after more than thirty years of service, his exit follows sustained criticism from both within and outside the organization. To ensure continuity, CAF has appointed Samson Adamu, formerly director of competitions, as acting secretary general. This internal appointment is intended to maintain administrative stability until a permanent successor is named by the General Assembly. At the same time, CAF highlighted recent progress in governance, ethics, and transparency, reaffirming a policy of «zero tolerance» toward corruption and misconduct. It also pledged equal treatment for all member federations, without favoritism. U17 CAN confirmed in Morocco In parallel, as CAF faces ongoing challenges in securing hosts for some major competitions, Morocco is increasingly positioning itself as a reliable option. While plans for the 2027 AFCON, awarded to the Kenya–Tanzania–Uganda trio, appear uncertain, CAF has confirmed that the Kingdom will host the U17 Africa Cup of Nations at the end of 2026, in addition to the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) scheduled for the summer. Through these successive allocations, Morocco is effectively acting as a «fallback host» for CAF, offering the logistical and organizational guarantees that some other countries currently struggle to provide. However, the issue of the 2025 final remains unresolved. The case is currently under review by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, limiting CAF's room for maneuver. «Whether we like the decision or not, it must be respected,» insisted Patrice Motsepe, underlining the sensitivity of the matter. Beyond managing the immediate crisis, these reforms will ultimately be judged on their ability to deliver concrete improvements in the credibility of African football competitions.
