By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr Patrice Motsepe, has announced plans to review CAF regulations and improve the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system following incidents at the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025.
Motsepe disclosed this in a statement published on the CAF website on Friday,30January,2026 saying the decision came after the controversial final and subsequent rulings by CAF’s judicial bodies. The move aims to protect the integrity, reputation, and global competitiveness of African football.
“I am absolutely determined, and the CAF Executive Committee (EXCO), as well as the CAF Member Association Presidents, who represent 54 African countries, are also determined, to maintain and advance the integrity, reputation and global competitiveness of African football and CAF competitions,” he said.
He expressed disappointment over the incidents at the final, describing them as unacceptable, but noted that CAF’s judicial organs had already addressed the matter.
“I was extremely disappointed with the unacceptable incidences that took place at the finals of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025,” Motsepe said.
“I have taken note of the decision of the CAF Disciplinary Board which was announced on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, and I respect and will adhere to every decision of our CAF judicial bodies.”
Consequently, Motsepe confirmed that the CAF Executive Committee, the organisation’s highest decision-making body outside the Annual Ordinary General Assembly, would meet to consider regulatory amendments.
“I have called a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee (EXCO)… to review the CAF Regulations, including the CAF Disciplinary Code,” he said.
He explained that the review aims to empower CAF’s judicial bodies to impose sanctions that are appropriate and dissuasive for serious violations.
“The objective is to ensure that the CAF Judicial Bodies have the power to impose appropriate and dissuasive sanctions for serious violations of the CAF Statutes, Regulations and Disciplinary Code, and for behaviour that seriously undermines or harms the reputation, integrity, respect and global competitiveness of African football and CAF competitions,” Motsepe said.
Addressing refereeing and match officiating, Motsepe highlighted progress achieved in recent years and outlined further measures to strengthen standards.
“We have, over the past few years, significantly improved the quality, integrity, independence, skills and expertise of African referees, VAR operators and match commissioners,” he said, adding that CAF would continue investing in these areas.
“We are determined to allocate additional financial and expert technical resources to ensure that the quality, integrity, impartiality, skills and expertise of African referees, VAR operators and match commissioners are as good as the best in the world,” Motsepe stated.
Reflecting on reforms introduced since he became CAF president, Motsepe said one of his first actions was to restructure the CAF Referees Committee to ensure independence and impartiality.
“One of the first changes that I introduced when I became President of CAF was to ensure that the CAF Referees Committee is independent, impartial and consists of members proposed by the 54 CAF Member Associations, as well as the best qualified and respected referees in Africa,” he said.
He stressed that global perception of African officials is critical to CAF’s credibility.
“It is very important that African referees, VAR operators and match commissioners are perceived, respected and acknowledged as being impartial, fair and world class,” he said.
Looking ahead, Motsepe expressed confidence that the reforms would continue to elevate African football on the world stage.
“I am confident that with the additional changes and extensive measures that we are introducing, African football and CAF competitions will continue to be respected, admired and amongst the best in the world,” he concluded.
