African Football Confederation President Patrice Motsepe reaffirmed the organization’s “strict commitment” to safeguarding the integrity, reputation and global competitiveness of African football following incidents during the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
In a statement published Friday on the CAF website, Motsepe said he and the confederation’s executive committee, along with presidents of CAF’s 54 member associations, remain fully determined to protect and develop African football and CAF competitions.
“I am deeply disappointed by the unacceptable incidents that occurred during the Africa Cup of Nations finals,” Motsepe said, referring to the Morocco 2025 tournament. He said he had taken note of a decision issued by CAF’s disciplinary committee on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, and stressed that he respects and will abide by all rulings issued by CAF’s judicial bodies.
Motsepe said he has called for an extraordinary meeting of CAF’s executive committee, the confederation’s highest decision-making body outside its annual general assembly, to review CAF regulations, including the disciplinary code.
The aim, he said, is to ensure that CAF’s judicial bodies have the authority to impose appropriate and deterrent sanctions for serious violations of CAF statutes, regulations and disciplinary rules, as well as conduct that undermines the reputation, integrity and global standing of African football.
He also highlighted progress made in recent years in improving the quality, independence and professionalism of African referees, video assistant referee operators and match commissioners. Motsepe said CAF is committed to allocating additional financial resources and specialized technical expertise to ensure that African officials meet the highest global standards of neutrality, competence and integrity.
Among the first reforms he introduced after assuming the CAF presidency, Motsepe said, was ensuring the independence and impartiality of the confederation’s referees committee. The committee, he noted, is composed of members nominated by CAF’s 54 member associations, along with Africa’s most qualified and respected referees.
“It is critically important that African referees, VAR operators and match commissioners are seen, respected and recognized as neutral, fair and world-class,” Motsepe said.
He concluded by saying that, with the additional reforms and wide-ranging measures being introduced, African football and CAF competitions will continue to earn global respect and admiration and rank among the best in the world.
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