The President of Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, has announced the start of a comprehensive overhaul of refereeing standards across the continent.
The move comes in response to widespread criticism of officiating, particularly after several disputed calls during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The controversies sparked renewed pressure on CAF to address inconsistencies and restore confidence in match officiating.
Speaking during a visit to Senegal on Wednesday, Motsepe confirmed that reforms are already underway, stressing the importance of bringing African refereeing in line with global standards.
“Our ambition is also to support referees in their decision-making, ensuring they meet the demands of modern football,” Motsepe stated.
“The reforms initiated will help to resolve existing difficulties.
“We are convinced that these reforms will allow African football to regain its full competitiveness on a global scale.
“We advocate zero tolerance for corruption, so that the 54 African nations can operate in a healthy and fair environment.”
CAF’s reform programme is set to prioritise better training for match officials, wider adoption of modern technology, and stronger monitoring systems.
The initiative is aimed at rebuilding trust and ensuring more consistent, transparent officiating across all competitions on the continent.
