Sundowns v AS FAR: CAF refereeing official Safari Kabene assigned as 2nd referee assessor ahead of first leg in Pretoria

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Olivier Safari Kabene, the chair of its referees’ committee, as the second referee assessor for the CAF Champions League final first-leg fixture scheduled in Pretoria.

Kabene’s appointment places him in a crucial oversight role for one of the continent’s most high-profile club fixtures, where he will be responsible for evaluating the performance and decisions of the match officials.

The assignment, however, has drawn renewed attention due to past allegations linked to his officiating influence during a major continental final.

Kabene is reportedly the official who instructed referee Jean Ndala not to issue yellow cards to Senegal players during the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco, after the players left the field of play for more than 15 minutes in protest during the match.

The incident, which has been widely discussed in football circles, remains one of the more controversial refereeing moments in recent AFCON history.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has not publicly addressed the allegations tied to Kabene’s role in that episode.

Meanwhile, referee Jean Ndala, who officiated that AFCON final, was at the centre of the controversy following the disputed disciplinary decision involving the Senegal squad during the stoppage.

Olivier Safari Kabene now returns to a prominent officiating oversight position as CAF continues preparations for the Champions League final first leg in Pretoria, a fixture expected to attract significant scrutiny both on and off the pitch.

The appointment underscores CAF’s continued reliance on experienced refereeing officials for its elite competitions, even as debates around past decisions continue to surface within African football discourse.