Tensions erupted on the eve of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final between Morocco and Cameroon after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) replaced the initially appointed referees, prompting strong reactions from both federations.
The officiating announcement, unusually delayed until Thursday evening, saw South African Tom Abongile assigned to Mali-Senegal and Mauritanian Dahane Beida appointed to oversee Cameroon-Morocco.
The original assignment had named Egyptian referee Amin Omar as the central official, with Algerian Mustapha Ghorbal on VAR.
This combination, however, quickly drew criticism, particularly from Morocco.
Several Moroccan supporters and media outlets expressed concern over the pairing, describing it as “sensitive.”
Historical rivalries with Algeria and previous contentious experiences with Egyptian referees amplified the scrutiny, with names like Issam Abdelfattah and Jihad Gricha cited as symbols of past grievances.
The Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) lodged a formal complaint with CAF, highlighting the lack of clarity about the officiating team and questioning the appropriateness of the appointments.
Following the complaint, CAF replaced Omar and Ghorbal with the current team, effectively meeting Morocco’s demands.
Your Match officials for (09 January,2026)👇
🏟️⚽️ 🇲🇱 Mali vs Senegal 🇸🇳
🏟️⚽️ 🇨🇲Cameroon vs Morocco 🇲🇦#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/Nf5kwqhAMy— CAF Media (@CAF_Media) January 8, 2026
However, the last-minute changes reportedly angered Cameroonian Football Federation president Samuel Eto’o and his Nigerian counterpart, Ibrahim Musa Gusau.
According to journalist Romain Molina, both officials were notified late and have voiced their displeasure, with Eto’o and Gusau seeking to contest aspects of the officiating arrangements.
Molina summarized the situation as “very heated at CAF right now.”
This controversy is not an isolated incident.
Refereeing decisions have emerged as a recurring point of tension during AFCON 2025, with matches such as Algeria versus DR Congo already drawing widespread debate over officiating quality and fairness.
Leaks suggest the CAF referees’ committee is experiencing internal turmoil, with some top officials reportedly sidelined for non-sporting reasons, including breaches of official sponsorship agreements.
Such developments underscore a broader unease surrounding officiating across the tournament.
Suite à la réclamation de la Fédération marocaine de football 🇲🇦, l’arbitre du match face au Cameroun ne sera finalement pas l’Egyptien Amin Omar mais le Mauritanien Dahane Beida
La Fédération camerounaise 🇨🇲 n’est pas encore au courant au moment où j’écris cela
— Romain Molina (@Romain_Molina) January 8, 2026
For Morocco and Cameroon, the dispute adds a complex layer to an already high-stakes encounter, with both teams needing to focus on the pitch despite off-field distractions.
CAF faces the challenge of ensuring transparency and maintaining trust in the officiating process as the tournament progresses.
The Cameroon-Morocco match, set for Friday evening at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, will now proceed under Dahane Beida’s supervision, with both teams and supporters closely watching to see whether the referee’s decisions will withstand the intense scrutiny surrounding the fixture.
