The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will hold an Executive Committee meeting on November 21 on the sidelines of the U23 Africa Cup of Nations, with a proposed reform of the refereeing system high on the agenda. However, the issue has already sparked internal tensions within the organization, particularly with the chairman of the Refereeing Committee.
Souleiman Waberi Hassan, head of CAF’s Refereeing Commission, has voiced strong opposition to the way the reform is being handled. In a letter addressed to CAF president Ahmad and members of the Executive Committee, he warned that he could step down if proper procedures are not followed.
“If this reform project does not go through the legal procedure to reach the table of the Executive Committee, I will resign,” he stated firmly.
Waberi, who also serves as president of the Djiboutian Football Federation (FDF), expressed surprise that a draft proposal on refereeing reform had been placed on the meeting’s agenda without consultation with him or his commission. According to him, neither he nor his team were involved in the design or development of the project.
His reaction highlights a growing divide within CAF over governance and decision-making processes. For Waberi and his supporters, any major reform—especially one directly affecting refereeing—should involve the body officially responsible for overseeing that area.
As the Executive Committee prepares to meet, the controversy threatens to overshadow discussions and could potentially lead to significant changes within CAF’s refereeing leadership if no compromise is reached.
