CAF: new revelations which reignite the controversy at the COMEX

The meeting of the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), held Friday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, was largely dominated by the aftermath of the CAN 2025 final organized in Morocco. Although the possible tightening of the Disciplinary Code was officially on the agenda, certain discussions quickly refocused attention on arbitration and incident management.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe expressed his “deep disappointment” at the events that marred the final. He considered that the sanctions pronounced by the Disciplinary Commission might not be up to the facts, pleading for a strengthening of the regulatory framework in order to preserve the image of African football.

Beyond the disciplinary aspects, the refereeing of the match was also at the heart of the discussions, giving rise to exchanges described as particularly tense. It is in this context that the president of the Referees Commission, Olivier Safari Kabene, would have made remarks with notable implications.

According to several specialized media, he admitted to having given instructions aimed at avoiding the permanent interruption of the match after the temporary withdrawal of the Senegalese players. However, the regulations provided for immediate sanctions upon their return to the field. It would have been decided not to strictly apply these provisions in order to avoid a scenario that could lead to the premature end of the match. A rigorous application of the regulations could in fact have placed Senegal in numerical inferiority, with several players already being warned.

Another point raised during the discussions: the refereeing manager reportedly indicated that he was not fully involved in the designation of certain referees who officiated during the tournament, despite his participation in the preparatory meetings.

If these elements were to be officially confirmed, they could raise questions about the internal designation procedures and the transparency of decisions within the continental body.