CAF will convene an extraordinary executive meeting in Tanzania next week as it considers tightening its disciplinary framework in the wake of controversies surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
The Confederation of African Football confirmed that its Executive Committee will gather on 13 February in Dar es Salaam under the chairmanship of president Patrice Motsepe, in a move seen as an attempt to respond swiftly to criticism that followed the tournament’s showpiece event.
The meeting, scheduled outside CAF’s normal calendar, underlines the urgency with which the governing body wants to address issues exposed during the final.
Officials are expected to focus on restoring confidence in CAF’s ability to manage major competitions and enforce its rules consistently across the continent.
At the centre of the discussions will be a review of CAF’s legal and regulatory framework, with particular emphasis on its Disciplinary Code.
The organisation believes that recent events highlighted gaps in existing procedures and limitations in the powers available to its judicial bodies.
As a result, proposals are set to be examined that would allow for firmer and more decisive sanctions in cases of misconduct.
CAF’s leadership sees this process as an opportunity to learn from recent shortcomings and to reinforce the authority of the continental body.
By revisiting its disciplinary mechanisms, the organisation aims to deter behaviour considered harmful to the image, integrity and smooth running of African football competitions.
The initiative forms part of a broader governance approach championed by Patrice Motsepe since taking office.
His administration has repeatedly stated its ambition to professionalise CAF’s structures and align them more closely with international standards.
Strengthening disciplinary tools is viewed internally as a key pillar of that strategy.
Officials believe that clearer rules and tougher sanctions could help prevent a repeat of the tensions and disputes that overshadowed the end of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Dar es Salaam summit is therefore expected to go beyond immediate reactions, with longer-term reforms also on the agenda.
While no specific measures have yet been made public, the extraordinary nature of the meeting has fuelled speculation that significant changes could follow.
Any revisions adopted would be designed to provide CAF’s judicial bodies with broader authority and faster procedures, ensuring that disciplinary cases are handled with greater consistency and transparency.
As African football continues to grow in profile and commercial value, CAF is under increasing pressure to demonstrate strong governance.
The decisions taken in Tanzania could prove pivotal in shaping how future tournaments are regulated and how the organisation responds to crises.
For CAF, the Dar es Salaam meeting represents a critical moment: an attempt to turn controversy into reform and to lay the groundwork for a more robust disciplinary culture across the continent.
