FIFA is preparing to intervene decisively within the Confederation of African Football after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations became engulfed in controversy, with refereeing failures and administrative lapses placing the continental body under unprecedented global scrutiny.
The fallout from the tournament, sources say, has prompted football’s world governing body to open reviews into several high-profile incidents, including Algeria’s formal complaint over its quarter-final defeat to Nigeria.
AFCON 2025, staged amid high expectations, instead produced a series of flashpoints that dominated international discussion. Questionable officiating decisions, prolonged stoppages, and chaotic scenes during matches raised concerns about standards and governance.
The final between Morocco and Senegal proved particularly damaging, with incidents such as Senegal’s attempted walkout and the widely mocked “towel incident” becoming symbols of what critics described as a loss of control and credibility.
Refereeing decisions under FIFA review
According to sources, FIFA has begun examining multiple AFCON matches that triggered protests from national teams and criticism from global media.
Algeria’s complaint against Senegalese referee Issa Sy, following the Nigeria quarter-final, is understood to have accelerated FIFA’s involvement.
The review process is being overseen by FIFA’s Referees Committee, chaired by Pierluigi Collina, which is assessing games flagged for irregular or controversial officiating.
Beyond on-field decisions, FIFA is also investigating the inconsistent use of Video Assistant Referee technology. Several federations complained that VAR was inexplicably ignored during key moments, despite clear protocols requiring its application.
Algeria, Senegal, Cameroon, Tanzania and others raised concerns over VAR officials, reinforcing claims of systemic refereeing dysfunction rather than isolated errors.
Pressure mounts for structural reform
The scale of criticism has led FIFA to push CAF toward swift and meaningful reform. Sources indicate that changes are being considered within CAF’s senior administration, including the possible removal of secretary general Véron Mosengo-Omba.
His position has drawn scrutiny not only because of the tournament’s controversies but also due to questions over governance and compliance with CAF regulations.
Attention is also firmly fixed on CAF’s Referees Committee, widely viewed as the epicentre of the crisis. FIFA is reportedly exploring options to reshape the committee, including recommending a new leadership structure and exercising temporary oversight of referee appointments and operations to restore trust.
Restoring credibility to African football
FIFA’s involvement is driven by a desire to protect the global standing of African football, which suffered reputational damage during AFCON 2025.
Officials believe financial fines alone are insufficient and that deeper institutional reform is required.
