The Confederation of African Football (CAF) President, Patrice Motsepe, has publicly addressed the growing wave of criticism from fans regarding the standard of officiating at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Widespread Complaints Over Refereeing Decisions
Supporters and national teams have voiced significant discontent, labeling the refereeing at the tournament as a noticeable downgrade from the 2023 edition held in Côte d'Ivoire. The controversy has touched several high-stakes matches, putting the spotlight on CAF's officiating standards.
Nigeria's semi-final clash against host nation Morocco on January 14 in Rabat became a focal point. Nigerian fans and analysts heavily criticized the performance of Ghanaian referee Daniel Laryea during the Super Eagles' loss.
In another incident, Algerian players confronted referee Issa Sy after their 2-0 quarter-final defeat to Nigeria. They questioned his decision not to award a penalty for an alleged handball by Nigerian defender Semi Ajayi in the first half when the score was still 1-0. The Algerian football federation subsequently submitted a formal petition to both CAF and FIFA over Sy's officiating.
Cameroon also joined the chorus of complaints. According to reports, they were dissatisfied with the officiating of Mauritanian referee Beida Dahane during their Round of 16 loss to Morocco.
Motsepe's Response and Pre-Tournament Directive
Ahead of the tournament's final matches, CAF President Patrice Motsepe spoke to SABC Sport, acknowledging the supporters' observations. He emphasized that the views of ordinary fans are critically important and must be respected by football administrators.
"I heard some of the supporters say 'was there not a penalty, red card, goal' or whatever their observations are. We are intently attentive to that," Motsepe stated.
The South African businessman disclosed that he held a meeting with all match officials before the competition began. He delivered a clear message, urging them to uphold the highest standards.
"I said to them: 'We [you] have to officiate, we are proud of you, you have to officiate every match at the highest level with the highest degree of integrity, impartiality and independence'," Motsepe revealed.
Fan Reactions and Calls for Action
Public reaction to Motsepe's comments has been mixed, with many fans on social media demanding concrete action rather than just acknowledgments.
Some users accused the football governing body of complicity, suggesting that poor decisions were not merely mistakes. One fan commented that speaking to referees was insufficient, and that sanctions against poor officiating were key to improving the tournament. Another implied that certain teams were disadvantaged to benefit others, a sentiment echoed by those who believe the host nation, Morocco, benefited from questionable calls on their path to the final.
The controversy casts a shadow over the latter stages of AFCON 2025, raising questions about the processes for referee selection, training, and accountability within African football. While Motsepe has acknowledged the problem, the football community now watches to see if this leads to tangible reforms in officiating standards for future tournaments.
